Oh what a glorious reunion took place on May 8, 2017 as mother returned home at the age of 87 to her Loving Heavenly Father and was reunited with her life long sweetheart, Gerwin Bowen, her parents, Cecil Thomas and Irene Anderson Clements, and 10 of her 11 siblings. Mother loves her family! This probably stems from being the adored baby sister of 12 children. She was born in Hibbard, Idaho on October 31, 1929 to loving parents.

Mom always said, from a very young age, she wanted to be a mother. Her wish came true when she married her eternal companion on June 20, 1951. She has six children: David (Cindy), Russell, Eva Sommer, Elaine (Curtis) Carter, Carl, Marla (Trina Gonzales), but she mothered countless others. Everyone who knows her has felt her love.

Mother has 17 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren who were the joy of her life. Coming from such a large family, mother also had more nieces and nephews than we can count. She knew and loved each one and looked forward to any time she could spend time with them at family gatherings and at our yearly family reunion in the Tetons. She became well known as the "Kissy Aunt" and was endeared by so many.

Mother has always had a strong love for and deep testimony of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She impacted many lives serving as Teacher, Relief Society President, Ward Choir Director and many will remember her for the years she spent as the Ward Organist. She also loved the time serving with Dad in the Florida Tampa Bay Mission. She made lifelong friends there and deeply loved that service.

Venese C. Bowen is a woman who endured through difficulty, loved more than any one person should be capable of loving and made everyone she met feel special. If you are reading this, she would want you to know that she loves you and wants you to be happy and enjoy this precious life.

Venese is survived by all her children; her sister, Bertha Fullmer; her brother-in-law, Grant L. Bowen; her sisters-in-law: Phyllis Clements, Maurine Clements, Rosaline Chandler and Loretta Burns.
She is preceded in death by her husband; parents; 10 siblings; and her great-grandson, Xavier Kevin Bowen.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 12, 2017, at the Hibbard LDS Chapel 2001 North 3000 West. The family will be receiving friends Thursday, May 11 from 6:00 to 7:30 at Flamm Funeral Home in Rexburg, and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 at the church prior to services. Interment will be at the Rexburg Cemetery.