Now that she's no longer an elected official and is home from the church mission, Walker has more time to visit with her 25 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Through her example, Slighting says, she's taught them how to help others, "to look beyond the church to serve in a civic capacity."

In August 2003, the same day that President Bush appointed then-Gov. Michael Leavitt to head up the Environmental Protection Agency, 59 percent of Utahns polled couldn't name the lieutenant governor who was about to become their leader, and only 27 percent said they'd like to see Walker run for governor in 2004.

"Grandmotherly" was the adjective often used to describe her, as if her age and kindly nature might not serve her well. But by the time she left office in 2005, Walker had an 87 percent approval rating.

She has always surprised people. So there's no telling what she might still accomplish in her retirement.

"I keep thinking I have at least 30 more years," she says. That would put her at 106; maybe by then, she says, "I can get my (golf) handicap down."

She and Myron generally hit the links in the evening, when the course isn't busy. "You can play as fast as you want," says the woman whose life was always double-booked. Even now, Walker doesn't want to just stand around.

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E-mail: jarvik@desnews.com