June Idaho Nelson Ostrander, age 95, passed away Thursday, July 28, 2016 at her assisted living in American Fork, UT. June was born on June 24, 1921 in Pocatello, Idaho and was the last of seven children born to James Joseph Nelson and Helena Petrine Christensen. Graduated Pocatello High School in 1939, then married William Gilbert Ostrander July 20, 1940, had a daughter Julene. They divorced and she married Theodore Truman Neighbors in 1943, and had two sons Kenneth Nelson Neighbors and Michael Ted Neighbors (who only lived 3 months). After she divorced Theodore, she remarried the love of her life William Ostrander and had a son William Gilbert Ostrander Jr. She followed her husband's career in the Army as he was stationed in Albuquerque, NM and Monterey, CA at Fort Ord. They were divorced in 1956 and June moved to Salt Lake City, Utah with her 3 children. She worked at Grand Central for 19 yrs and at Woolworths for 10 yrs.
She loved ballroom dancing ( jitterbug champion) and her dance partner Frank Ellis, driving taxi cabs, being Daddy's girl, sheep herding, riding horses, bowling, music (loved Lawrence Welk), crossword puzzles, cooking and sharing her meals, loved her cat Che Cha, beautifully written greeting cards and lastly being with friends and family.
She was preceded in death by her siblings Parley, Caroline, Roy, Helen, Joseph and Blanche; sons Kenneth and Michael Neighbors, friend Frank Ellis and son-in-law Kent Hoffman.
She is survived by daughter Julene Hoffman of Pleasant Grove, UT, son William Ostrander Jr. of Houston, TX; five grandchildren Diana (Kevin) Knight of Abu Dhabi, UAE, Colleen (Terry) Hughes of West Valley, UT, Christopher Nelson of Murray, UT, Jeffrey (Denise) Nelson of Palmer, AK, and Kenneth Neighbors Jr. of Salt Lake City, cousin Max Christensen of Springville (last of cousins June grew up with) seven great grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
A special thanks to friends Hal and Karen McKinley, Dan and Bonnie Salisbury, Scott Cluff, cousins Connie and Stanley Brangham, grandkids who were so dedicated to visiting their grandmother as often as they could and daughter Julene for the last 22 years of seeing to her mother's needs and all the friends and family whose love and support helped her during her illness. Thanks to Bel Aire Senior Living staff and Hearts for Hospice for their sweet service to June this last year.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, August 4, 2016 at Larkin Mortuary at 260 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City starting at 10am. Viewings will be the night before at Larkin Mortuary from 6 to 8pm and before the funeral from 9 to 9:45am. Interment will be in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
