Barbara Fae Mickelson

1931 - 2025

Barbara Fae Thompson Mickelson, age 94, passed away peacefully from this life to the next, on Friday, October 10, 2025. Barbara was born on July 15, 1931, in Downey, Idaho to William Orville and Gertrude Ione Owen Thompson. Barbara was raised in Virginia, Idaho, on the Thompson Yago Ranch with her four brothers, Thayne, Bill, John, Leon, and sister Lorna. Many stories have been shared over the years about their adventures on the ranch. One of her favorite winter traditions was when her father would put bells on the sleigh, hook up the horses, and take the kids to school.

Education was important to Barbara in all stages of her life; she never stopped learning and teaching. Barbara had many talents such as playing piano, cooking, baking, crochet, knitting, dressmaking, and quilting. She spent many hours quilting on her own and with the women of Williams Ward. Barbara also judged fair entries and spent time passing down her knowledge to others.

Barbara graduated from Brigham Young University in 1958. She moved to Grace, Idaho, to teach home economics at Grace High School. It was there that she started to date Riley Letham Mickelson. They were married on Dec. 4, 1959, in the Logan, Utah Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Temple. They were a great complement to each other and loved each other deeply. In their 50th year of marriage, May 2008, Riley passed due to a farm injury accident.

After his passing, Barbara remained in their home. This is where she continued to live, all the way to age 94! She had a profound love for the small Idaho towns she lived in because of their beautiful views and the sagebrush. She often told her family how much she loved the smell of sagebrush and how she could hardly stand it when she was in the city. Rural Idaho was home.

Barbara is the mother to 11 children: Brenda Smith (deceased) (Delmas), Blooming Grove, Texas; Brian (deceased); Scott (Kerry) Treasureton, Idaho; Antone (Kelly), Yakima, Wash; Marty (Dianne), Lewiston, Utah; Marsha Warren (Philip), Jerome, Idaho; Betty Fellows (Jed), Preston, Idaho; Blair (Laura), Melba, Idaho; Sarah Hansen (Wade), Lancaster, Ohio; Arlen, Preston, Idaho; Marlowe (Noel), Grace, Idaho. She is also grandma to 39 grandchildren, 54 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandchildren.

As a caretaker of so many people over the years - farmhands, family, friends, ward members - Barbara shared her love and light. She served in many church callings over the years including: Organist, Primary Pianist, RS Counselor, Spiritual Living & Homemaking Teacher, Gospel Doctrine Teacher, and Achievement Days Leader. In her 90s she said "We all have to look after one another, and it's a job, but it's a good job. I guess it's not really a job, it's just what people do." She constantly served others and treated them with kindness. In this way, Barbara was a model of Christlike service.

One of the many life lessons Barbara has shared with her children and grandchildren is that "in this life, you can choose to be happy or choose to be miserable." Even in the most difficult times of her life, she was happy. She had a joyful smile and infectious laughter that remained with her through all of her 94 years. We are so blessed that she chose happy, continuously living an exemplary life of strength and positivity.

Barbara is preceded in death by her husband, two children, parents, and siblings. She is survived by nine of her children & their spouses; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; great-great grandchildren; brother-in-law, Jay Christopherson, and many, many beloved close relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. at the LDS church in Niter, Idaho, 2060 Niter Bench Rd. Friends may call Friday from 6-8 pm and again prior to the service on Saturday from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Interment will be in the Lago Idaho Cemetery. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at webbmortuary.com

For those who wish, memorial donations may be made to Primary Children's Hospital https://give.primarychildrenshospital.org/give/395838/#!/donation/checkout Services are under the direction of the Webb Funeral Home https://www.webbmortuary.com/