Obituary
James Lauritz Edlefsen III died on April 11, 2025 at the age of 93, at home in Ogden Utah. He was born on October 2, 1931, to James Lauritz Edlefsen Jr. and Agnes Bernice Noble in Boise, Idaho. His father worked for Morrison-Knudson construction company, so much of "Jimmy's" younger years were spent living in tents, trailers, and motels in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho - most likely where his love of nature started. His school years were spent in Boise, Idaho where both his grandfather and uncle served as mayor in the 30s and 50s. Growing up in Boise, he fished, played basketball with his buddies, joined the H.S. ROTC, and enlisted with the Idaho Air National Guard. Around this time, he discovered his love for music and guitar, starting his first band while still in high school. After graduating from Boise High School ('49), Jim went on to Boise Junior College for one year before transferring to the University of Idaho in Moscow where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Forestry ('53).
From there, he began his military service in the Army: Korea 1954-55 Signal Corps Office where his unit was involved in classified intelligence activities and training Korean troops in Operations. After military service, Jim earned his Master's Degree in Land Management (‘56-‘58) from Utah State University in Logan, Utah, and it was there a beautiful redheaded lassie named Donna Benson caught his eye at the university square dance. Jim was smitten and won Donna over with his good looks and musical talents. After Donna joined his USU Band "Rhythm Wranglers", they married in the LDS Logan Utah Temple on September 2, 1959. Jim and Donna started their married life in a small cabin in the Boise National Forest where they welcomed their first child. Four more children joined the family as Jim worked for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Arizona, Maryland, and Wyoming.
Jim enjoyed many hobbies including photography, model airplanes, and biking. He was known to bike to work even through the cold Wyoming winters, and his photographs won awards from his local photography clubs. He also loved to camp and hike, especially with his family. One of his favorite hikes was a week in the Sawtooth Mountains with Donna. However, music was always his main passion, playing guitar, banjo, autoharp, and mandolin. Together with Donna, they played and sang in various bands for over fifty years, entertaining in nursing homes and senior centers.
Throughout his life, Jim was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints where he held various callings. During his later years, Jim loved learning about his ancestors, doing genealogy work, and indexing. In the mid 1990s, he and Donna served an LDS mission at the Salt Lake Family History Library.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Pat and Elizabeth, and his wife Donna. He is survived by his children Tammy of Ogden, UT; Jim (Joan) of Rockton, IL; Betty of Logan, UT; Linda of Williamsburg, VA; and Andrew (Surbhi) of Guangzhou, China. His grandchildren include Ethan, Ellen, Anna, Tyler, Nikita, Avi, and soon to be one more.
It was Jim’s wish to hold a graveside service at the Logan Cemetery, which will be scheduled by his family at a later date. A special thanks to the staff of Independence Hospice for the care and help they provided in his last weeks.
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