Margaret Goodman Williams

Our beloved mother, Margaret Williams, passed from this life to the next on Friday, March 24, 2023.  She was born February 5, 1921 in Arimo, Idaho to James Edwin Goodman and Isabel Jenkins Evans Goodman.  She had 8 siblings, she being the 7th child.   She was raised on a farm where her older brothers did most of the hard work.  Margaret learned at an early age to cook, clean, and take care of children.  She graduated from Arimo High School in 1939 with 18 other students.

Margaret married Ronald Williams on July 5, 1941 in Pocatello, Idaho.  They were sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple on May 8, 1953. They celebrated 64 years of marriage before Ronald’s passing on October 7, 2005.

Margaret worked for Clark’s Sewing Center for a time.  She then became the 4th person hired at the new Idaho Central Credit Union and eventually retired from there in 1983 as the head bookkeeper.  She was astonished at how much they have grown since its inception.

Always an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she held numerous callings over the years, mostly in leadership positions.  Ronald and Margaret served an LDS mission for 18 months in Salt Lake City at the Family History Center.

Margaret was an excellent homemaker, wife and mother.  She could cook anything, but nobody could make dinner rolls like hers.  She was a great seamstress and made most of her children’s clothes when they were growing up.  She, herself, was always fashionably dressed with beautiful hair styling.  This was thanks to her daughter, Judy, who did her mother’s hair faithfully for 60 years. 

Margaret loved to garden and canned vegetables, fruits, pickles, jams and jellies.  Among her hobbies were reading, genealogy, and crocheting. In addition, all family members have a prized quilt that she made for them.  Margaret was often described as a great storyteller, as sweet and kind with a great sense of humor. Perhaps her greatest gift was being a friend to many and helping others.  To be her friend is to call yourself blessed, for she was selfless in caring for others. 

Margaret is predeceased by her husband, Ronald and all of her siblings. 

She is survived by her children, Judy (Don) Harris, Pocatello; Ronda (Pete) Black, Pocatello; and Lowell (Jill) Williams, Fruit Heights, Utah; her grandchildren, Mark (Juana) Harris, Camille (Devin) Quigley, Darin Black, Joel Williams, Benjamin Williams, Ronald (Angie) Williams and Carrie (Christian) Stringham; 9 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren. 

The family would like to express thanks to Family and Friends Home Health Care and Heritage Home Health & Hospice for their kind and loving care of our mother.  Special thanks to Tracy Lovstedt and Shay Longhurst.  These people and agencies, and the dedication of her three children, made it possible for Margaret to stay in her home until her death. 

Her funeral service will be held Friday, March 31, 2023 at 12:00 (noon) at the Lakeview Drive Chapel 1440 Lakeview Drive.  The family will receive friends at 10:30 at the same location. Funeral services will be under the direction of Manning-Wheatley Funeral Chapel and burial will be in Mountain View Cemetery.

Contributions may be made in Margaret’s name to Primary Children’s Hospital Foundation P.O. Box 58249, Salt Lake City, UT 84158-0249.  

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