Obituary: Leah Finch

Leah Finch

1913 ~ 2008

Leah Nelson Finch, 95, died in Provo, Utah, June 10, 2008.She was born February 23, 1913, in Spanish Fork, Utah, to Henry and Leah Holt Nelson. Her father died when she was three, and her mother raised her and her younger sister.

Leah grew up in Spanish Fork, living with her beloved grandparents and mother. Aunts, uncles, and many cousins were part of her daily life. At an early age she learned to play the piano and organ and was often a featured singer at community activities. In Spanish Fork High School, she performed with the Lieurance Chorus and sang the lead in the annual school opera.

Leah attended Brigham Young University, completing in three years a double major in English and music with certifications to teach both elementary and high school. She taught for one year at Spanish Fork Thurber School before marrying her high school sweetheart, Henry Finch, on September 5, 1935, in the Logan Temple. They immediately left Spanish Fork for California, where Henry attended Stanford University.

During their marriage, Leah and Henry lived in Palo Alto, CA; Berkeley, CA; Tacoma, WA; Oakland, CA; Edina, MN; Saratoga, CA; and Provo, UT. Henry worked for General Mills, and, when the children were older, Leah taught first grade. Leah was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and served in leadership positions and as ward organist.

Leah was cheerful, patient, hard working, and loved to learn. She was a fine seamstress and sewed many of her daughters' clothes as they were growing up. She knit beautiful sweaters, dresses, afghans, and baby blankets. She was a beloved teacher, helping countless children learn to read. She played the organ and piano beautifully. Always wanting to improve, she took organ lessons until she was 93. She loved to read, especially histories and biographies. She wrote lively and engaging memoirs. Always a gracious hostess, she loved to be with her many friends and with her family.

Leah was preceded in death by her parents and husband. She is survived by her children, Richard (Judy) Finch, Oakland, California; Patricia (Richard) Malan, Yountville, California; Kay (Steven) Lineback, Provo; Beth (Paul) Hedengren, Provo, 15 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Dona Kitchen, Spanish Fork.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, June 16, in the Grandview 9th Ward Chapel, 1555 N. 1350 W., Provo. Friends may call on Sun. evening from 6-8 p.m. at Berg Mortuary, 185 East Center, Provo and from 9:30-10:40 a.m. prior to the services at the chapel. Interment will be in the Spanish Fork City Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to info@bergmortuary.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at www.cff.org or the LDS Perpetual Education Fund at www.lds.org