Melba Cleva (Henson) Pritchett

Melba Cleva (Henson) Pritchett, 76, passed away on October 9, 2025, at the University of Utah Hospital after a lengthy illness.

She was born on November 26, 1948, in McCammon, Idaho, to William E. and Bertha Fern Henson, and was the youngest of four children. Melba grew up in McCammon and Burley, Idaho, and was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In August 1975, Melba married Kurt Darrington Anderson and welcomed his three sons, Todd, Randy, and Kyle, into her heart. Together they had two children, Daniel (Dan) and Stephanie. In 1978, just one month before Stephanie was born, Kurt was tragically killed in a plane crash. Three years later, in 1981, Melba began a new chapter when she married Garry Lee Pritchett. They were later sealed in the Seattle Washington Temple in 2006, a day she deeply treasured. In 1982, they completed their family with the arrival of their son, Jeremy.

Melba was no stranger to loss, facing heartbreak and sorrow in many chapters of her life, but she always found strength in her faith, her family, and her sense of humor.

She trained as a secretary and built a long career working in law offices, county and city positions, and bankruptcy administration. She was a dependable and kind employee who believed in hard work and fairness and cherished the friendships she made along the way.

Melba cared deeply about people and what was going on in their lives. She valued staying connected, with all, both near or far, and embraced the ease of modern technology to keep in touch, always leaving people feeling better than when she found them.

She often got restless and loved to take off for the weekend. It was never anywhere fancy, usually just a few hours away, but those short getaways were her reset button. When the kids were grown, those trips to favorite haunts and the comfort of familiar routines became treasured time with Garry.

Melba was sassy, stubborn, and hilarious. Her sense of humor was a little offbeat and just the right amount of mischievous. She could give as much as she got and was known for saying the most random things that would tickle your funny bone, even when she wasn’t trying to be funny. She could find something to laugh about in almost any situation, even the hard ones, and her laughter made the people around her feel lighter. Humor was one of the ways she showed love, and she carried that light with her wherever she went.

Melba had another love in her life that those around her knew well…Pepsi! She was rarely seen without a can nearby and kept a supply in her garage worthy of apocalyptic readiness, along with enough snacks and treats to make a convenience store proud. She always said that Coke just wasn’t the same after they changed the recipe. Her grandkids loved teasing her by showing up with a Coke to drink right in front of her. She would call them traitors, roll her eyes, and then tell them she loved them anyway.

Her home was a place of laughter and comfort. She had a special bond with each of her grandkids, and their visits were filled with laughter, stories, and the kind of moments that will keep Grandma’s spirit and humor alive in their memories. Anyone who spent time at Grandma’s house left with a funny story and at least one new nickname they didn’t ask for. Melba had a language all her own, filled with made-up words and phrases like “fart in a skillet” that always made everyone laugh.

Melba had a heart for service. She was always thinking of others and finding ways to ease a burden, lift a spirit, or brighten someone’s day, whether it was with a meal, flowers, or a kind word. As her health declined, her service looked a little different, with her sweet husband often acting as the delivery guy, but the love behind it never changed.

As time went on, it became harder for her to do things for herself. Her loving husband Garry became her full-time caregiver, making meals, keeping track of her medicine, mastering the laundry, and running errands. He was completely devoted and did everything he could to keep her comfortable and cared for. It wasn’t easy for her to go from caring for others to being the one cared for, but she was deeply grateful for his love and steady presence. Their marriage faced many challenges over the years, but they always faced them together. They were each other’s strength in all the ways that mattered most.

The ache of this loss runs deep for everyone who loved her, but we find comfort in knowing she is free from pain and reunited with loved ones she longed to see, especially her son Jeremy. We are forever grateful for her love, her strength, her humor, and the way she shared her faith in Jesus Christ. Her example will continue to guide us and remind us to meet life’s challenges with laughter and love.

Melba is survived by her husband, Garry; son, Daniel (Amanda) Anderson; daughter, Stephanie (Mark) Starr; grandchildren Denton and Owen (children of Daniel and Amanda), and Adam, Sasha, and Aaron (children of Stephanie and Mark); siblings Gary (Sandra) Henson, Barbara (Jerry) Cook, and Pat (Steven) Streeper; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, Kurt, her son, Jeremy, brother-in-law, Jerry (Barbara) Cook, sister-in-law, Sandra (Gary) Henson, and brother-in-law, Steven (Pat) Streeper.

A funeral service will be held Saturday, October 18, 2025, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4010 Hawthorne Road, Pocatello, Idaho. A viewing will begin at 10:00 a.m., followed by the funeral at 11:00 a.m., and burial will follow at Norton Cemetery in McCammon, Idaho.

Despite careful planning, the family’s focus has always been on making sure Mom had the care and comfort she needed. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to help with medical and final expenses are appreciated and may be sent through Venmo @Melba_Memorial_Fund. Your kindness and support mean more than words can say.

A livestream of the service will be available via Zoom for those unable to attend in person.

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