POCATELLO - Vivian "Joan" Sparks, 78, of Pocatello, passed away September 7, 2010, at a local hospital. Joan was born on April 3, 1932, the youngest of three girls of Clarence and Vivian Henning, in Ovid, Idaho. She attended schools in Montpelier then moved to Pocatello and graduated from Pocatello High School in the class of 1949. Later that year she married Gordon Sparks on September 1, 1949 in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple. Together they had 5 children.

Joan was a stay at home mom caring for her 5 children.

She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 5th Ward where she served in the Relief Society, Primary, and visiting to name a few. She also worked a short time at District 25 serving in the school lunch rooms.

Joan enjoyed crocheting, camping, knitting, painting, quilting, reading, crossword puzzles, and flower gardens. She loved listening to hymns and classical music on her MP3 player that her daughters downloaded for her. She also loved playing on her Nintendo DS.

Joan and Gordon just celebrated their 61st Anniversary.

She is survived by her husband Gordon; daughter Christine Sparks of Pocatello; son Michael (Cindy) Sparks of Salt Lake City, Ut; daughter Caryn (Fred) Sistrunk of Pocatello; son Richard Sparks of Pocatello; daughter Lucille Sparks of Pocatello; 8 grandchildren, Camie, Shane, Randy, Rick, David, Doug, Jared, Aaron; 19 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, September 13, 2010, at the LDS 5th Ward Building, on the corner of Cedar and Poole, with Bishop Howard Manwaring officiating. Burial will follow services at the Mountain View Cemetery.

Published in Idaho State Journal on September 10, 2010