Virginia Arbuckle Heyrend

VIRGINIA R. HEYREND BOISE, IDAHO -- Virginia Ruth Arbuckle Heyrend, age 95, formerly of Idaho Falls, Idaho, died September 5, 2005, surrounded by family and loved ones in her son’s home. She had lived with her son in Boise for the last ten years. Virginia was blessed with a very long and wonderful life. She was committed to her community, church and family. She had the good fortune to see many inventions, weathering not only numerous blizzards and the breaking of the Teton Dam, but the emotional storm of waiting for both her husband and son to return from WWII. She was steadfast, honorable and tenacious. There was nothing left undone or unaccomplished once Virginia set her sights on it. She was a proud woman who inspired others and “no” was not part of her vocabulary or her actions. She exemplified a pioneering spirit that was admired by many and inherited by some. We, her surviving family, can only hope to achieve a fraction of what she did during her lifetime and with that, we equally would have lived outstanding and fulfilled lives. She was born August 10, 1910 at Pocatello, Idaho, the daughter and only child of Aubrey Thomas Arbuckle and Isabella Elizabeth Peterson Arbuckle. She attended schools in Idaho Falls; Tacoma, Washington; Vancouver, British Columbia; Los Angles, California, and graduated from high school in Chicago, Illinois. She also attended Business College in Idaho Falls. She married Floyd Standley Heyrend September 8, 1926, and they remained married for 67 years. Their marriage was solemnized in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. She and Floyd were life and business partners in the Heyrend Construction Company, where she maintained the books and records and acted as the company secretary until they both retired. Their business was instrumental in the rebuilding of local communities in the aftermath of the Teton Dam break, as they were one of the first companies to respond. They were also the only company, at the time, to venture up to the South Butte to install the first towers for INEEL. Numerous buildings still stand in Idaho Falls as a testament to their workmanship. She was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, attended the 24th Ward in Idaho Falls, and served in many callings. She was very active in her community and was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, AARP and a life member of Soroptimist International. Virginia enjoyed genealogy research, crocheting, music, and the ballet, however, nothing was more important to her than family. She looked forward to family visits, trips and the joy of the holidays with the house full of warmth, laughter, excitement and sharing. She loved family trips to her cabin in Palisades, her vacations to Furnace Creek and the many trips with her grandchildren to Yellowstone Park. Her stories of the Bombardier and snowmobiling during winter trips to Yellowstone and Island Park were humorous and memorable. She greatly appreciated the outdoors and passed along a love for them to her family. One could always hear Virginia laugh when she recounted stories and adventures with Tango, Storm, Caesar and Smokey. She was always excited to have visits from Iris and hear of her journeys around the world, as well as visits from Lorraine and her best friend, Violet Williams. Family visits and gatherings were something she took great pleasure from and she will be greatly missed at the next one. She was proceeded in death by her parents, her husband, Floyd, and a grandson. Her son, F. LaMarr Heyrend of Boise, three grandchildren, five great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren survive her. The family wishes to thank her caregiver, B. J. Martin, and Horizon Home Health and Hospice. Please join us for a celebration of Virginia’s life on Saturday, September 10, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. at Fielding Memorial Park in Idaho Falls.