OGDEN – Velda Burnham Bennett peacefully returned home to her Heavenly Father on Saturday, March 1, 2008 at Aspen Care Center in Ogden.

She was born June 19, 1907 to James Lewis and Amy Penrose Burnham in Richmond, Utah. She was the youngest of 12 children. At the age of 16, she moved with her family to Salt Lake City where she graduated from LDS High School and attended the University of Utah.

Velda met John Kenneth Bennett and they were married in the Salt Lake LDS Temple June 26, 1929. They moved to Ogden in 1936. They had four children – Jean, Ron, Bob and Rick.

She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and taught for many years in the Junior Sunday School and Primary.

Velda was very active in the community. She loved teaching children. At the age of 50 she went back to school and earned her teaching degree. She taught first grade and kindergarten for 10 years at Roosevelt Elementary.

She loved to garden and always had a beautiful yard. Gema (Velda) celebrated 100 years of life on June 19, 2007 with her family and friends.

Surviving are her children, Jean (Bill) Hadfield, John Robert (Noleen) Bennett and daughter-in-law, Carolyn Bennett. She has 12 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

Velda was preceded in death by her husband Kenny who died March 7, 1992, and two of her sons, Ronald Lewis Bennett and Lynn Richard Bennett.

Funeral services were held Friday, March 7, 2008 at the Lindquist's Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd.

Interment, Lindquist's Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Blvd.

The family expresses their appreciation for the loving care she had from everyone at Aspen Care Center.

This information was provided by the Lindquist's Mortuary obituaries.