Hilda Lee Neff Farnsworth passed away on April 16, 2018, in Phoenix. A viewing that will begin at 9 a.m., with funeral services following at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 21, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ chapel located at 3802 N. 59th Ave. in Phoenix. Interment for Hilda will be at 4 p.m. at the Shumway Cemetery in Shumway. Hilda was born in Snowflake at the Snowflake Hospital on March 27, 1940. She is the daughter of Joseph Alma and Vivian Allen Neff. She attended Taylor Elementary School and graduated from Snowflake Union High School. After graduation, she moved to Mesa and worked as a waitress until she was called to serve a mission for the Church in the Northern California Mission where she spent part of her mission serving with her brother Joseph Paul Neff. This was a choice experience for her. After returning from her mission, she and her sister Pearl moved to Utah where they attended and graduated from the Continental Beauty College. Hilda moved back to Taylor and worked at Ed’s Supermarket in Snowflake. It is here she met her future husband Richard Barr Farnsworth “Rick”. They were married in the Mesa Arizona Temple on June 15, 1968. To this union are two sons: Nathan Wade (Erica) and Stuart Allen (Jennifer “Jenny”) Farnsworth. She is the grandmother of Kayla, Jessica and Breanna (Wade) and S. Ryan, Claire, Braden, and Darren (Stuart). She also has nine great grandchildren. She is survived by each. The vast majority of Hilda and Rick’s lives were spent in Arizona, except for 14 years in Missouri. Hilda’s last employment was as a caregiver in Joplin, Mo., where she worked for several years and distinguished herself for the outstanding care, compassion, and service she provided. Her volunteer service to countless others is immeasurable. Hilda was a dedicated wife and mother. She served her husband and family passionately and lovingly all her life. She was always a devoted member of the Church in which she held many callings and positions in the women’s organization (Relief Society), the children’s organization (Primary), music and family history. She and Rick served a ward mission and were ordinance workers in the Mesa, Oklahoma City, Okla., and St. Louis, Mo., temples. She regularly and gladly volunteered to teach with the missionaries until she was 76 years old and continued indexing names until shortly before she passed after having spoken with many of her family, including all of her living siblings the day before. Hilda’s greatest loves were equally her Savior Jesus Christ, His Church and her family. Her greatest desire was to be with her family for eternity. She leaves a legacy of faithful service, charity, compassion and love. Hilda was a noble and faithful daughter of our Heavenly Father, whom we dearly loved. We will miss you until we meet again. Silver Creek Mortuary of Taylor handled the arrangements.
