Obituary of Alfred Val Mitchell

Obituary Alfred Val Mitchell Alfred Val Mitchell was the first son to join the family of Alfred Lochiel and Lila Moon Mitchell on 20 September 1927. The family lived in Upalco, Duchesne, Utah at that time. When he was about nine years old, the family moved to Nyssa, Oregon where they cleared land and began farming on the Reclamation project. His dad passed away from pneumonia when Val was ten years old. That was the beginning of hard times as Val and Jarvis did what they could to keep the farm going and provide a living for the family. He completed school through the eighth grade and then began taking care of the farm full time. He served in the Army and was stationed in Sendai, Japan. Upon returning home, he met Faelela Jean Hendricks and they were married in August of 1950 in the Logan Utah Temple. They lived in Nyssa, Oregon and then moved to The Dalles, Oregon. Later they moved to Boise, Idaho. In 1959, the family moved to Othello, Washington where Val was able to purchase some land at a reduced price because of having been in the service. The canal system had just been completed but he had to clear the land of sage brush and prepare the land for irrigation before he could plant crops. He purchased two barrack houses from Ephrata a year after moving to Othello and made a home for the family. Besides farming, he worked for the Bureau of Fish and Wildlife as a Federal Game Warden for over twenty-five years. He also framed pictures and made wood items for tole painting for “Fae’s Books and Crafts”. For several years, he built floats for the grandchildren to ride on during the Othello Fair Parade. After retiring, he spent a lot of time in the yard planting lawn, flowers, and trees. He was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many different organizations. In his later years, he served a church service mission at the employment center in Moses Lake with Fae. They also served as temple ordinance workers at three different temples. Preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Lila June Mitchell Rookstool (Harold), a brother, Don Jarvis Mitchell, (Lois). Survived by seven children: Michael Val (Martha Kingsford), Linda Marie (Bruce Orr, deceased) Brent Leroy (Maxine Pack, deceased), Lila Louise (Brent Reeder) Marilyn Fae (Nels Larson) Sandra Elaine and Marianne (David Hayes). Currently, he also has 33 grandchildren, 98 great-grandchildren and 6 great-great grandchildren. Heaven greeted him with open arms on 7 June 2023. His memory and the example he set for us will live in our hearts forever.