Mildred LaVerne Clinger Pierce

Our beloved mother, grandmother, and great grandmother Mildred LaVerne Clinger Pierce passed away peacefully September 11, 2015 surrounded by her children. She was born March 31, 1924, in Aberdeen Idaho to Leland Dorius and Mildred Pearle Johnston Clinger. LaVerne was raised in a large family of 10 children in a small farming community in Southern Idaho and graduated from Aberdeen High School. Following high school, LaVerne enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 20 where she served as an occupational therapist for 20 months. She attended teacher training school in Albion Idaho and later graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in English. LaVerne served a Spanish American Mission from 1948-1951 where she met her eternal companion, Robert Carlyle Pierce. They were married in the Idaho Falls Temple June 5, 1952. She valued literacy and taught secondary developmental reading in Granite School District. LaVerne especially loved to read and it wasn't uncommon for her to be reading several books at any given time. She was also active in politics and loved her country. Following retirement, she and her husband served two missions together, the first in the Spain, Madrid Mission from 1988-1989 and the second in the New York, New York North Spanish Speaking Mission from 1994-1995. LaVerne was active in the LDS Church throughout her life and served in many different callings. She and her husband also served as Ordinance Workers in the Jordan River Temple. LaVerne loved her family and enjoyed being with them. She also had a strong bond with her brothers and sisters, especially Thelys, with whom she lived for a number of years in American Fork, Utah. LaVerne is preceded in death by her husband Robert and survived by her children Stewart (Linda), Elaine (Scott) Hardman, Alyson (Randy) Jensen, Roberta (Phil) Clevenger, Andrew (Carolyn); 27 grandchildren and 42 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Thursday, September 17, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. at the Hillcrest 1st Ward, 540 West 949 North, American Fork, Utah. Friends may call Wednesday, September 16, from 6-8:00 p.m. at the McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 South Redwood Road and Thursday from 10:00 - 10:45 a.m. at the church. Internment at the Redwood Memorial Estates. Place of Birth:Aberdeen, IdahoPlace of Death:Riverton, Utah