Roma Alder Passes Away at 86

Roma Lee Alder of Kennewick, Wash., former longtime Hermiston resident, passed away peacefully on July 25, 2022 in Richland, Wash. at the age of 86.

She was born on Dec. 7, 1935 in Beaver, Utah to Albert and Myrtle Mary Woolsey Powell.

Her two older brothers, Albert and Gene, adored her. She was sickly much of her early life, as well as her later life. Their family later adopted a little girl named Barbara, so she finally had a sister.

Roma was very active in high school. She took Hawaiian guitar lessons and voice lessons. She performed in operettas and music festivals and preferred singing in small groups and trios. She loved to dance and enjoyed dance festivals, as well as youth church dances. Roma and Allan Alder have been friends ever since they were young. They would play together while their mothers were at ward choir practice. They started officially dating in high school and did so until he left on his mission.

It might be considered scandalous today, but Roma and Allan’s sister and mother went and picked him up from his mission. Roma and Allan were soon married on Oct. 30, 1957 in the Idaho Falls temple. They have seven children, Robert (Debbie), Michael (Sharon), David, Diana (Jed), Karen (Aaron), Eric (Nova) and Steven (Cher). They have 36 grandchildren, 48 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

Roma loved her service in the church. She was a great teacher and enjoyed teaching children and youth. Her most rewarding ward calling was when she taught early morning seminary. She loved it when past seminary students called or visited. Roma was always a faithful visiting teacher. She knew how to minister to others.

Roma and Allan served a mission together in the Family History Salt Lake City Mission for 15 months and soon thereafter were called as ordinance workers in the Portland temple. In 2001 they were called to be president and matron of the newly constructed Columbia River Washington Temple by President Gordon B. Hinckley, where they served for three years, which was one of the highlights of their lives.

Roma enjoyed life. She loved being around her children and grandchildren. She made birthdays and holidays fun and memorable. She even made getting new shoes special and would sing to us and our children the Brand New Shoes song every time. She had a great sense of humor and we spent lots of time laughing and playing together. She loved playing games and telling stories, and found lots of ways to share her testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 30, 2022 at 2 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1035 E. Ninth St., Hermiston, with viewing from 1 to 1:45 p.m. at the Relief Society room.

Burial will follow at the Hermiston Cemetery.

Please share memories of Roma with her family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.

Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.