Having been surrounded by love from her large family for the days preceding, Helen slipped peacefully into Heaven on February 20, 2024. Helen LaMar Palmer Snelgrove was born April 4, 1932 in Los Angeles, California to Helen La Mar Dalton and Lowell Smith Palmer.
Helen spent her childhood in the Los Angeles area under the strict observance of her older siblings! She loved spending time with cousins, roller skating and enjoying the freedom of her bicycle. Helen had a life-long love of the beach and was an avid boogie boarder, before boards were invented and well into her 80’s! She attended Pasadena City College, where she took art class. It was the beginning of her lifelong love of art. She eventually earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Brigham Young University at age 70, and her work was showcased at the Springville Art Museum.
As a young woman, while studying at BYU, she met Phillip Ray Snelgrove. Their first date was going dancing, something they enjoyed their whole lives. Helen could never resist an opportunity to dance, even when her strength was almost gone! They married in the Mesa Arizona Temple on September 6th, 1952. They were blessed to enjoy 70 years of marriage, before Phil passed away in 2022. Together, they were the parents of ten children and a large posterity of grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren to whom they served faithfully. Their family was a great source of joy to them.
Helen often recalled that being a mother of a large family was something she always wanted. She decided that 10 would be a nice number. She loved being a mother, finding it easy and natural. Even though it came with challenges, she never regretted her decision to be the mother of Steven, Leslie, Juli, Carol, Jon, Clark, Lisa, Susan, Becky and RayAnn.
Helen worked tirelessly to love and serve her family. She also felt a special connection with her ancestral family, wanting to know their stories and share them with her family. She spent her lifetime doing genealogical research. She and Phil served a full-time mission (Utica, NY) and several service missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Growing a garden and tending to her beautiful yard were a great source of satisfaction for Helen. She was resourceful (“Waste not, want not” was a motto she lived by), hard-working (making homemade bread), fun-loving (always dressing up for Halloween, dancing, playing on the floor with young children), and energetic (hosting dinner parties, weddings, and receptions). She was usually the last to leave a party! She truly “loved one another as Jesus loved [her].”
The legacy left by Phil and Helen of love and family closeness will be something we cherish forever. We love you, Grandma Helen!
On Saturday, March 2, 2024 the following events will occur, graveside services at 4:00 – 5:00 pm at the Springville Evergreen Cemetery, 1997 South 400 East, Springville, Utah. Family dinner will be at the Springville Art Museum, 126 East 400 South, Springville, Utah from 5:30 – 6:30 pm. Text RSVP to Leslie 801-225-0533. Followed be a Celebration of Life at 6:30 pm for friends and neighbors also at the Art Museum.
Condolences can be offered at www.springcreekmortuary.com.
