Colleen Clarke Austin Sorensen

Colleen Sorensen (86) passed away in Tallahassee, Florida on March 10, 2017. She was born on November 30, 1930 in Rupert, Idaho to Harden Hyrum and Laura Matilda (Gardner) Clarke. She loved the color blue, dancing, the temple, and her family. She was dedicated to good health, and in the words of the Apostle Paul should could always be found “speaking the truth in love.” She grew up in southern Idaho and northern Utah, graduating from Bear River High School in Tremonton, Utah in 1949. She attended the University of Utah and Brigham Young University, studying art and fashion design. As a young woman, she served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) to the Central States Mission, headquartered in Missouri. She met Curtis Matthews Austin of Liberty, Idaho, and they married in Idaho Falls Temple on April 13, 1956. They raised their seven children in Pocatello and Burley, Idaho. In addition to being a full-time devoted mother, she worked as a book keeper and was an accomplished seamstress. She could masterfully create almost any picture in thread. After her first husband’s passing, she married Glenn L. Sorensen of Dietrich, Idaho, May 18, 1985 in the Logan, Utah Temple. Colleen and Glenn had a combined family of 22 children and more than 100 grandchildren all of whom were greatly blessed by their love and devotions. Glenn and Colleen served a full-time LDS mission to the California Santa Rosa Mission and later started an employment center for the LDS church in Twin Falls, Idaho. Glenn and Colleen lived in Dietrich and Burley, before moving to American Fork, Utah. After Glenn’s passing, Colleen lived with her daughters Angela and later with Denise, before moving to Florida, “where it doesn’t snow.” Colleen is preceded in death by her parents, husbands, brother Chadwick Clarke and sister Fauntella Neilson. She is survived by her brother H. Hal (Mary Ann) Clarke of Provo, Utah ; her children, Curtis (Carol) Austin of Tallahassee, Florida, Cynde (Val) Laudie of American Fork, Utah, Tami (David)Tracy of Burley, Idaho, Michael (Julie) Austin of Provo, Utah, Denise (Michael) Kelly of Pleasant View, Utah, Randy (Leslie) Austin of Alpine, Utah, and Angela (Samiu) Katoa of American Fork , Utah. Colleen was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where she served diligently in a host of callings, including as a Relief Society President. She loved to serve as a visiting teacher. In the sunset of life, she was a dedicated Temple worker and patron. She taught her posterity, her friends, and her acquaintances unceasingly of the peace that comes from living according to the teachings of the Savior, Jesus Christ. She will ever be revered by her posterity as a woman of courage who lived what she taught. There will be a viewing for Colleen Clarke Austin Sorensen on Saturday, March 18, 2017 from 10:30 – 11:30am in the Burley 2nd Ward Building at 515 E. 18th St., Burley, ID with the funeral to follow at 12 noon . Interment will be in the Pleasant View Cemetery in Burley, ID. Todd Wahlquist with Bevis Funeral Home is assisting the family with their arrangements.

Tributes

Colleen Clarke Austin Sorensen

November 30, 1930 - March 10, 2017