H. Elaine Strickland

H. Elaine Morris Strickland graduated from this life on July 23, 2026 surrounded by her children. She was born in the old lava rock maternity home in Rigby, Idaho on January 11, 1942 and grew up in Idaho and Washington state. She attended 3 different high schools and graduated in Quincy, Washington. She was well-liked wherever she lived and enjoyed going to dances; some of her best memories were spending time dancing at the Kuna Stomps as a youth.

After high school she served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Northern States Mission in New York. She served in Rochester, Palmyra and Canandaigua. While on her mission she participated in two Hill Cumorah pageants and was privileged to spend the night in the Joseph Smith home one Christmas Eve.

After her mission, one summer while visiting her parents in Auburn, California, 3 older women talked her into going to Sunday School where an eligible bachelor, Jim Strickland, was teaching. Elaine and Jim were married in the Salt Lake temple on October 5, 1966 by Harold B. Lee.

Jim and Elaine moved from Provo, Utah to Burley, Idaho in 1971 after the birth of their 3rd child and raised their 5 children in that area until 1986 when they moved to Boise, Idaho where Jim's regional office was located for Mutual of New York.

Elaine was a lifelong learner and was always reading behavior and human development books. She was interested in anything that would keep her healthy and young. Her kids would say they spent a lot of time in the health food store but she also had a sweet tooth and was known for her homemade pies and cinnamon rolls. She was an excellent cook and always had dinner ready after school with homemade bread and cookies waiting.

Elaine was the most patient mother one could have and was supportive of her children in all of their endeavors. She is preceded in death by her husband (May 1, 2022) and is survived by her five children, Todd (Tracy) Strickland, Tosha Strickland, Tara (Mike) Spencer, Telese (Andrew) Defa and Talane (Derek) Harper, 14 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. She will be missed. We love you mom!!!

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 from 5:00 - 7:00pm at Bowman Funeral Parlor located at 10254 W. Carlton Bay Garden City, Idaho.  A graveside service will be held on Thursday, July 30, 2026 at 9:00 am at Meridian Cemetery located at 895 E. Franklin Road Meridian, Idaho.