[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 24074]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                      IN HONOR OF EVA B. ISRAELSEN

 Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I was sad to learn of the death of 
Mrs. Eva Israelsen of North Logan, Utah this past week. As one of Cache 
Valley's oldest living residents, she was a remarkable woman.
  Eva May Butler Israelsen was born October 5, 1894, in Butlerville, 
Utah. She attended Butlerville School as a young girl. A diligent 
student throughout her life, she was Valedictorian of the first 
graduating class of Jordan High School in 1915. I find it remarkable 
that just nine years ago, she and the other surviving class member, 
Thomas J. Parmley celebrated their 75th class reunion. In 1991 she was 
invited to be the featured speaker at Jordan High School's graduation.
  She attended the Utah Agricultural College (now Utah State 
University) where she met her husband Victor Eugene Israelsen. They 
were married in the Salt Lake LDS Temple in 1917. After college, she 
and her husband farmed, eventually establishing the North Logan 
Buttercup Dairy where she lived for 63 years. That dairy became a 
landmark in Cache Valley.
  Eva was known throughout Cache Valley simply as ``Grandma 
Israelsen.'' She kept numerous journals and granted countless 
interviews to young people in the community who sought her out for her 
perspective and historical knowledge. She remained active in her 
community and her church throughout her life. With support from her 
children, she attended nearly every funeral, wedding and baby blessing 
in the community. She was active in the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers 
and blessed the lives of her neighbors through her charitable example 
and her Christian life.
  Grandma Israelsen had a remarkable memory, often recalling details 
about not only her own family members and grandchildren but of the 
families of her neighbors and acquaintances. It was common for her to 
ask her neighbors about their children by name, even though she may not 
have seen them for years. The residents of North Logan will miss that, 
just as they miss waiving to her on her morning walks which she used to 
take back when she was a young woman of just 101.
  She and her husband had eleven children, eight of which are living. 
Her husband Victor passed away in 1967. Her progeny includes 67 
grandchildren, 271 great-grandchildren and 40 great-great 
grandchildren. Including the 97 spouses, she is survived by 483 family 
members.
  Grandma Israelsen would have been 105 years old today. So on her 
birthday, I want to pay tribute to her life and express my condolences 
to her family on her passing. She was a remarkable woman who led a 
remarkable life. Sophocles once said ``One must wait until the evening 
to see how splendid the day has been.'' In her passing, I am sure that 
the community agrees that it was indeed splendid to spend the day with 
Eva Israelsen.

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