Delva Daines

Delva Daines, BYU Professor Emeritus and prominent Utah and Idaho educator, died September 15, 2012, in South Jordan, Utah.

Born January 12, 1919, in Smithfield, Utah, Delva was raised there among cousins and in New York and New Jersey while her father attended medical school. She attended high school in Smithfield and college at Utah State University. Following her college graduation she was married for a short time to Nathan Crookston. They settled in Portland, Oregon, where their daughter Sally was born.

Following Delva’s return to Cache Valley, she completed a master’s degree at Utah State and a doctorate from Washington State. She later completed post-doctoral studies at Columbia, Syracuse, and Delaware University. She was a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and the Society of Pi Lambda Theta. Delva was a life-long learner and traveled to several countries on behalf of her church and her profession.

While district supervisor of Idaho elementary schools, she was chosen as Idaho State Director of Elementary Education. She later joined the faculty at Brigham Young University where she was honored with the Karl G. Maeser Distinguished Teaching Award and the Utah State University College of Family Life Alumna Award. She retired after 34 years of dedicated service at BYU.

Delva was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She rendered service throughout her life in ward and stake Church callings. She served on Church writing committees and the Young Women General Board from 1972–1978.

Delva enjoyed her family, friends, and students. Her greatest joy was her family. She is survived by her daughter, Sally Blunck; two granddaughters, Gaye Biorge (Dan) and Geri Medina (Sam); eight great-grandchildren and two great-great-granddaughters; as well as niece, Rebecca Sperry, and nephew, Michael Bate. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sisters, Karen Daines and Kathleen Bate.

Funeral services will be held at 11 am, Saturday, September 22, 2012, at Jenkins-Soffe South Valley 1007 W. South Jordan Pkwy. (10600 S) South Jordan, Utah. A viewing will take place Saturday, from 9:00 to 10:30 am prior to the services. Interment will be at the Smithfield City Cemetery at 3:00 pm. Delva has asked that contributions in her honor be sent to the LDS Church Perpetual Education Fund. The family would also like to acknowledge Carrington Court Assisted Living and Rocky Mountain Hospice for their loving care of Delva.