Rebecca Lamb Koeven succumbed to injuries resulting from a fall in her home that occurred several weeks ago. She fought hard to come back but unfortunately, for the living, Heavenly Father called her home. So, surrounded by her loving family Rebecca Lamb Koeven, at 88, passed away Friday, March 25, 2022, from one group of loving family here on earth to another group of loving family waiting for her on the other side. We’re sure she was happy to be reunited with her beloved husband Joe Koeven after a 25 ½ year separation.
Being surrounded by family is what she liked more than anything. She loved all the events that brought the family together. From Lamb and Koeven family reunions, weddings, the annual trip to Bear Lake (for more than 50 Years), General Conference gatherings, Easter, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the big traditional Koeven New Year’s Eve see-food (originally sea-food) party and sleep-over. She loved all of it and so much more… anything to do with being surrounded by family.
Rebecca was born in Logan, Utah, July 2, 1933, and lived in Hyde Park, Utah, throughout her childhood. She was born to Denzil David Lamb and Verla Wilson Lamb. She was the oldest of four children Lois (Russell) Reeder, Donna (Lionel) Benson, and Reed Lamb. She is survived by Donna (and Lionel) Benson; and sister-in-law Larue Koeven and many, much loved, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Joseph E. Koeven, Kaye (Bud) Boehme, Amos Kovene, Sheila (Royal) Meservy, Theone (John) Miles, Phillip Koeven, and Mary Koeven.
Rebecca attended Utah State University before getting married in the Logan Utah Temple to Joseph E. Koeven on July 30, 1954, following his return from his mission to South Africa. They lived in Logan for a few years until Joe got a job with the Tooele Board of Education as a schoolteacher, whereupon they relocated to Tooele where they stayed and raised four children. She is survived by her four children Debbie (Steve) West, Brenda (Gary) Smith, Kathy Koeven, Gary (Cheryl) Koeven. She had 11 grandchildren and is survived by 10 of these grandchildren: Justin West (Deceased), Brandon (Kristin) West; Wendy (Derek) Arthur, Brian (Baely) Smith, Cynthia (Spencer) Mann, Lisa Smith, Kristine (Tyler) Barker, Steven (Brittany) Koeven, Nathan (Erika) Koeven, Kevin (Michelle) Koeven, and Katie (Nathan) Schollars. She is also the VERY proud great-grandmother to 27 (plus two on the way).
Rebecca grew up in the small town of Hyde Park, Utah, where she was raised working with animals, driving a team of horses pulling hay, driving cows for her dad, carrying coal into their downstairs basement home, picking corn, raspberries (which she hated picking), green beans, etc. She didn’t love farming so much, but she learned to work hard. In her teen and young adult years she worked at Utah State University in a few positions. When she married, they moved to Tooele and she didn’t have a full-time job except raising her four children, that is until they opened Koeven Greenhouses. That was seasonal at first and later changed to year-round. Mom was a go-er and a do-er! She was always busy doing something and getting things done. Dad would occasionally put his hands on her shoulders to encourage her to sit down and rest her ever-moving body.
Rebecca had a group of friends whom she went with to Hale Theatre, Utah Symphony, etc. We called them “The Ladies.” She loved doing things with The Ladies and they would take turns driving until they all got promoted to needing a chauffeur and then a niece/niece-in-law or daughter got the privilege of enjoying The Ladies’ company. We’re thankful for those great friends.
Rebecca was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many church callings: Primary teacher/leader, YW teacher/leader, RS teacher/leader, and anywhere she was called. She also served a Church Service Mission for two years from 2009 to 2011. She loved the gospel and she made it a goal to read her scriptures every single day. Once she made a commitment, she kept it. I think scripture reading was only missed in the last couple weeks of her life. She had a very close and personal relationship with her Heavenly Father. As her son Gary said in his tribute to her on Facebook: We’re “…so grateful for her powerful example of faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. When she prayed to Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ, she knew that she would receive answers and she never doubted.” If you really needed something, you would ask Mom to pray for it. We will greatly miss our mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, friend… Rebecca Koeven.
The family wants to express great thanks to all those who stepped up and helped the family help Mom through her last days.
Rebecca’s life will be celebrated April 1, 2022, at Skyline Ward LDS Church, 777 Skyline Dr., Tooele, Utah. Viewing at 9:30 a.m., and funeral services: 11 a.m. She will be interred at the Tooele Cemetery. Tate Mortuary is overseeing the arrangements for the funeral services.