Peggy Stewart

Peggy Louise Talbot Stewart, age 80, left this world Sunday, February 2, 2025, surrounded by loving family, and was finally reunited with her beloved husband, Melvin Lee Stewart, in the spirit world.

Peggy was born December 30, 1944, in Malad, Idaho, to Hiram Barton and Margaret Alice Olive Talbot, the second of five children. One of Peggy’s favorite stories to tell was the doctor, thinking her labor would go on for hours, stepped away from the hospital. When the doctor didn’t return in time for the birth, the nurse, who was ready to attend a New Years Eve party, ended up delivering Peggy in a black evening gown. Because of the doctor’s absence, her father refused to pay the bill.

Her first two-and-a-half years were spent in a two-room log home on her grandfather’s farm in St. John, Idaho, three-miles west of Malad. At age two her family moved to Pocatello, Idaho, where she was raised and received her education attending Roosevelt Elementary, Alameda Junior High and graduated from Pocatello High School in 1963. Being the oldest girl, Peggy had many responsibilities in the home. She learned to cook, take care of the house and make soap. At 15, she began working at the A&W Root Beer stand and continued for five summers to help earn money for college. After graduating high school, she attended Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho, receiving her Associates Degree in 1965. This is where she met the love of her life, Melvin Lee Stewart. They were married August 27,1965, in the Idaho Falls Temple.

Peggy and Melvin moved to Logan, Utah, to attend Utah State University where they lived for eight years. Peggy worked at the university in food service for a year, then an additional five years in Admissions and Records. It was there in Logan where their three children were born, Gary, Brian and Maren. In 1973, they built their first home on the golf course in Smithfield, Utah, doing most of the work themselves. In 1975 they moved to Rexburg, Idaho, settling in Burton on the Stewart family farm. They built their second home, again mostly by themselves, and moved in just two weeks before the Teton Dam disaster.

Peggy was the ultimate stay-at-home mother. She ran the family while Mel ran the farm. She raised a garden every year, canned, snapped a million peas and sewed clothes to provide for her three children. It was during these years that she honed her military skills with a wooden spoon. Later, when Mel’s health began to decline, she went to work at Artco Printing in Rexburg where she retired after 26 years.

After her retirement she served as an ordinance worker in the Rexburg Temple and as a volunteer in the baptistry. This was like a second home for her. She loved the peace and spirit of being in the Lord’s House. Peggy was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was her pleasure to serve in many positions in her ward and stake, as teacher, counselor in Relief Society and with music. Her favorite was singing with the children in the nursery.

She loved visiting and helping others. Loved quilting and crocheting. She loved traveling and seeing the beauty of the earth. She loved sisters’ reunions and the genealogy projects that were accomplished together each summer. And she always loved lunches during potato harvest that Mother Stewart would bring out to the field for all the crew. Her family was her greatest asset, and she loved being able to spend time with them. Each child was blessed with wonderful talents and could always make mom laugh.

Peggy spent the last 8 years of her life living in San Antonio, Texas, with her daughter, Maren, and family during her battle with dementia. They built a massive master suite onto their home, so she had all the space she needed to feel comfortable. Maren was her primary caregiver and attributes her ability to do hard things, to her mother who taught her to work hard, do what needs to be done, and do it with a joyful heart.

Peggy was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin, and her parents Hiram and Margret. She is survived by her two brothers, Robert (DeeAnn Petty) Talbot, Ralph (Becky Rentelman) Talbot and two sisters, (Roger) Katherine Talbot Jones, and (Craig) Elizabeth Talbot Taylor, children Gary Stewart, Brian (& Julie Jorden) Stewart, and (Rhett &) Maren Stewart Zimmerman, ten grandchildren, Brandon, Kristopher and Kaili Stewart, Corbin and Devin Stewart, Austin, Logan, Carson, Jackson and Hailey Zimmerman and 3 great-grandchildren: Loralai, Lukas, and Arnold Stewart.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, February 15th at 12:00pm at the Burton 3rd Ward building (3958 W. 2000 S. Rexburg, Id). Burial will be in the Burton Cemetery