Yvonne Kay Elzinga Morter, age eighty-seven of Richland, Missouri, finished her mortal life on Monday, October 7, 2024 and went home to God. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah on August 2, 1937 to John James and Selma Nielson Elzinga as their second child, she joined her older sister Lavelle and four years later, her younger sister Raone. The three sisters would continue to have a close relationship their entire lives.
Yvonne’s early life was surrounded by a loving home full of kindness, fun, laughter, lots of family vacations/travel, and opportunities galore. She was a natural athlete and competed in a variety of sports, including softball where she played left field. She also enjoyed dancing of all types, singing, crafting, sewing and cooking.
Yvonne graduated from Cyprus High School, then attended Brigham Young University where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Home Economics. She taught Home Economics in two Utah towns and in Fairfax, Virginia for a total of thirteen years. It was there she would meet William (Bill) E. Morter and they would marry in Washington D.C. on June 21, 1975. She instantly found herself as the mother of five children from Bill’s previous marriage. They settled in Wilmington, Delaware and she left teaching to become a stay-at-home mom.
They relocated to Ballwin, Missouri and later to Richland, Missouri which became their final home. They ran their small farm for many years, raising rabbits, chickens, ducks and turkeys over the years. They held an annual pig roast every fall for over twenty years, involving friends, family, neighbors and local ward members.
She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and faithfully served in many callings, including chorister, teacher, three times as Relief Society President and temple worker. When asked what her top priority was, Yvonne would say, “The Lord Jesus is my top priority”. Even as her illnesses advanced, she continued to reaffirm this.
Yvonne was preceded in death by her parents, John and Selma; Bill’s parents, Milton and Grace Baker Morter; a sister-in-law Darlene Steele; and four brothers-in-law, Chuck Morter, Ted Morter, Dan Morter and Richard Crouch; and a favorite first cousin who was like a brother, Ken Nielson.
She is survived by her loving husband of forty-nine years, Bill; their children, Sherry Morter-Duby and her husband Nathan, Julie Giboney and her husband Frank, Theresa Coats, Michael Turner and Darlene McLain; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Raone Elzinga of Lebanon, Missouri and Lavelle Crouch of Bountiful, Utah; and a sister-in-law Marlene Greenslade.
She was a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother and great-grandmother, whose presence will be truly missed.
