Claudia B Andreason

Clara Claudia Ballard Andreason, age 91, of Twin Falls, passed away on the evening of Sunday, January 4, 2026, at her home, surrounded by her family. She was born in Boise on September 10, 1934, to Carroll James Ballard and Mary Ireta Rose. She was the older sister of James Elmer Ballard, who was born six years after.

On December 5, 1942, at the age of eight, she was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and remained a dedicated member throughout her life.

Her school years were spent at Lincoln Elementary and Twin Falls High School, where she studied hard and had good grades. She was known to always have a book in her hands wherever she went and loved taking piano lessons. She was a southpaw pitcher in summer league softball, and she was chosen by her teacher, along with her classmate Clyde, to give special tap dance performances around town in “The Dancing Dolls, Claudia & Clyde.” Since her father was an avid marksman, he made sure Claudia could shoot, which she did well, winning competitions and turkeys at turkey shoots.

As a high school student, she was chosen for her ability as a writer to proofread, edit, and write news stories for the school paper, and even had articles printed in the local Times News. She qualified for membership in the national Quill and Scroll and was selected to be a delegate from her school to Girls State at Northwest Nazarene College. She continued her study of music in the school’s A Cappella Choir, which she said was her favorite class of all.

In the Spring of 1952, as graduation grew close, she informed her parents that she would like to attend college with plans to pursue a degree in music and become a music teacher. Unfortunately, her father wasn’t supportive of the idea. Instead, she got a job at Western Union Telegraph Company, where she soon found herself in training for management.

Early that summer, while attending a birthday party, the mother of her friends, Gail and MarJean Andreason, asked if she wouldn’t mind sending a card to her son LaMar, who was in Kodiak, Alaska, serving in the Navy. Although Claudia didn’t know him, she’d heard Gail and MarJean mention their brother, and she agreed to send him one. She quickly received a response and thanks for the card. LaMar told her he’d soon be home on leave and would come to see her.

A few weeks later, as she was closing the Western Union office for the evening, the door opened, and a young man walked in. As she looked at him, he just stood there staring back. She asked if she could help him, and eventually he stammered back, “Are you Claudia?” She replied that she was, and he introduced himself as LaMar. He offered to drive her home and stopped with her for dinner on the way, and the rest is history. LaMar later explained the reason for hesitating at the door that night. He said as the light filtered in through the door and touched her hair, it reminded him of gold. It was then that he distinctly heard a voice say, “This is the mother of your children.”

In the following ten days before LaMar had to return to duty, he and Claudia met each night after she closed the office. They went to the movies, visited family, rode horses, attended church activities, and even found time to have their picture taken together. Finally, on the day before he was to return to duty, he gave her a diamond ring. The two wrote back and forth for the remaining two years of LaMar’s enlistment and were married in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on September 1, 1954.

The first of LaMar and Claudia’s seven children, Steven, was born on June 1, 1955. Over the following nine years, Marla, Jeanne, Carole, David, Lynda, and Greg joined the family. Claudia and LaMar passed the time in those early years working hard to care for the needs of their young family. When time allowed, they enjoyed teaching their young children to love camping, fishing, hunting, and swimming in the Salmon Tract’s irrigation canals. They taught them to care for the farm’s animals and crops, and to run a large family garden. Despite the financial difficulties, they endured it all together and lovingly instilled their strong faith in Jesus. In addition to running the family farm, LaMar worked two jobs in town. After a devastating crop failure in 1967, it became necessary for Claudia to start a job. She started at Idaho Frozen Foods, where she worked until retiring in 2002 after 34 years.

Over the years, the family survived crop failures, cases of cancer, motorcycle crashes, house fires, horses falling into cisterns, second- and third-degree burns, and the countless cuts, bumps, and scratches that come with life on the farm. Claudia was there with Band-Aids, hugs, and kisses every time.

Claudia’s life was filled with service to her church. During the sixty-five years that she attended the Hollister LDS Ward, she had the opportunity to serve in many capacities and did so to the best of her ability every time. She was called many times as a Teacher in Relief Society, Sunday School, and Primary. Her time in the Relief Society Presidency was always marked by 100% completion of Visiting Teaching assignments. She always loved to serve by leading music, which she did at church from the age of fourteen until she was finally released in 2025. She served as Branch, Ward, and Stake Music Director many times. Together with LaMar, she was called to serve as a Stake Missionary to the Jackpot, Nevada LDS Branch for 4 ½ years, where they had the blessing of knowing and caring for each of the small branch’s members. In her spare time, she learned to use a computer to do genealogy work at home and managed to use it to complete a book for each of her children containing her life’s story, photos from her youth, her words of wisdom, and most importantly, her testimony of faith in Jesus Christ.

One of the highlights of Claudia’s life was the blessing to serve as an Organist and as an Ordinance Worker in the Boise and Twin Falls LDS temples, callings which she honored and completed without fail for thirty-two years.

In their later years together, Claudia and LaMar occasionally had the opportunity to travel, which they both enjoyed. They got to see the western United States together and drove a few times out to visit friends they met among the Amish in Pennsylvania.

On November 10th, 1995, during a visit to the Emergency Room, LaMar was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Claudia was by his side as he took his cancer treatments over the following weeks in Salt Lake City. She was by his side when he passed away at home on January 25th, 1996.

Claudia had a talent for remembering birthdays and never missed sending a card. Her children and grandchildren in the mission field could count on regular letters from her filled with her faith, encouragement, and love. She was at every missionary farewell, kept a meticulous track of where each was serving, and was at every homecoming. She made it to every wedding, Eagle Scout Court of Honor, every High School graduation, and as many piano recitals and choir concerts as she was invited to.

Claudia was preceded in death by her parents and brother, her husband LaMar, her son Steven, and her grandson Derek.

She is survived by her children, not kids (she was adamant that only goats had kids!) Chris Andreason, wife of Steven, Marla Critchfield (Kim), Jeanne Molyneux, Carole Williams (Wyatt), David (Manon), Lynda Detweiler (David), and Greg (Vicki), thirty grandchildren, and almost sixty-eight great grandchildren, all of whom will miss her dearly.

The family extends special thanks to Robin Netherly and Mom’s sweet Relief Society sisters who helped with her care.

A viewing for Claudia will be held on Thursday, January 15, 2026, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Wilks Magic Valley Funeral Home, 2551 Kimberly Road, Twin Falls, Idaho 83301. Claudia will be laid to rest at Sunset Memorial Park, 2296 Kimberly Road, Twin Falls, Idaho 83301, on Friday, January 16, 2026, at 11:30 am. In keeping with Claudia's wishes, there will only be a dedicatory prayer at the cemetery, but all are welcome to join. Following the prayer at the cemetery, a luncheon will be held at the Detweiler home, 2672 E 4100 N, Twin Falls, Idaho 83301.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family in the guestbook section below.