Bernetia Fae Collins, 96 of Kimberly
passed away on April 6, 2014 at St Luke’s Medical Center after a short illness with loved ones by her side.
Fae was born September 28, 1917, the second child of Joe T. Allen and Nona Mae (Fitzhugh) Allen,
and grew up in Weaubleau, Missouri with her 3 Brothers, Avis, Orval, and Tom.
At the early age of 9 she was taking over a lot of her mother’s duties due to her mother’s illness.
Along with cooking, cleaning, and helping her dad on the farm, she also helped take care of her younger brothers.
Fae married Bert Collins in Jan of 1933 with their first son Roger born in November of that same year.
The young family soon moved to Lamar, Colorado to live with Bert’s sister Neva. While in Lamar, Fae helped Neva everyday deliver milk, cheese and whipping cream to over 70 customers. In April of 1935 they moved to Kimberly, Idaho where Bert went to work on his Uncle Orion Butler’s farm south of town. Bert was paid $35/month plus housing. It was the first time in either of their lives they had electricity and hand pumped water in the house.They were so excited. Bert and Fae were no strangers to hard work and earned everything they had. They continued the farming life style with horses and mules long before tractors came along. They lived and farmed south of Kimberly before trying a year in Gooding, and then settled back in Kimberly where they farmed for Ben Taylor.
Bert and Fae were blessed with two more children, Robbie Collins in 1943 & Cheryl Collins in 1948. When Roger was old enough, along with farming, they began doing custom farm work. This eventually lead to the Collins and Sons Fertilizer Company that the family opened in 1968. Bert and Fae were so proud of the fact that not only both sons but daughter, daughter-in-laws, and grandkids worked in the family business until 1989.
After they retired in 1978 they enjoyed winters in Arizona, traveling with their new 5th wheel, spending time with family at Roger and Phyllis’ cabin at Magic Reservoir, Larry and Cheryl’s cabin at Featherville, and snowmobiling with Rob and Carol and the kids. Bert passed away in October 1984 after almost 51 years of marriage.
Fae loved spending time with family and friends, and she had a lot of both. She not only watched a lot sports but participated in playing baseball, basketball and soccer with her grandkids and later great grandkids. She shared her love of fishing with grandkids and their friends at Magic Reservoir and Salmon Falls. Many a family member, friends and strangers enjoyed a home cooked meals prepared with love by Fae. She loved to hear a good story or joke and often told them herself. She spent many fun afternoons down at Jackpot, Nevada with her friends and family members including daughter-in-law Phyllis.
She was well known as just “Granny” even if you were not related and made a lasting positive impact on many people over the years. Fae said herself that the most precious things in life are the memories we create, and she leaves some of the best ever created.
Fae was preceeded in death by her parents, 3 brothers, husband Bert, son Robbie, and two grandsons Larry and Tony.
She is survived by son Roger (Phyllis)Collins daughter Cheryl (Larry) Anderson all of Kimberly, Daughter-in-law Carol Collins of Idaho Falls, 6 Grandchildren Kent (Cindy) Collins , Alisa(Danny) Klassen, Dusty (Mike) Preece, Teresa (Tom) Aicher, Shantell Anderson, and Randy (Stephanie)Collins. 19 Great-Grandchildren and soon to be 11 Great-Great-Grandchildren.
Please join the family to celebrate the Life of Fae “Granny” Collins on April 10, 2014 at 11:00 am at Rosenau Funeral Home located at 2826 Addison Ave E Twin Falls, Idaho.