Colleen Elnora Dimmick Lake, age 82, passed away on Saturday, March 24, 2018 in Spanish Fork, Utah. She was born on August 7, 1935 in Provo, Utah, the sixth of the nine children, to Aral Milton and Edith Zella Newell Dimmick. When she was very young, her family moved to Bell Gardens, California. Colleen always had strong drive and a big caring heart. From a young age she applied herself to accomplish the things she wanted. When she was 12, she and her sister had to share one bicycle. So Colleen explored her neighborhood, rounded up the parts she needed, and built her own bicycle so she and her sister could ride together. Her first job was assisting and taking care of elderly people, and her genuine concern for them could be easily observed. When she was a teenager she caught the attention of a handsome boy, and vice-versa. She married Nedwin Ivan Lake on July 7, 1952 in Reno, Nevada.
They made their home in California, raising their four children. Colleen worked many years as a cashier for Safeway. In the early 1970's, Ned started a trucking company. Colleen earned her own CDL license so she could help him and drive across the country together. In 1990, they moved to Delta. Colleen took advantage of her new opportunities here and opened a ceramics store on Delta’s Main Street. She also raised many miniature cows that she would show at the Utah State Fair. Ned died on November 28, 2004. She continued to find ways to develop her talents even as a widow. She always had the desire to learn to play the organ. She finally was able to start taking lessons in her 70's, and she did learn to play.
Colleen was a member of the LDS church and loved getting involved with her church community. It took her fifty years, but she was able to be sealed to her husband in the Salt Lake Temple before his passing. She enjoyed ceramics, quilting, fishing, and loved to reach out to and take care of strays - cats, dogs or even people would find her caring hands serving them. She would do anything to help others no matter what. The most important thing to her was her family. She organized a family reunion every year for 50 years. Above everything else Colleen was caring and kind and will always be remembered for her gentle spirit.
Colleen is survived by her children: Sandra (Jerry) Best, Delta; Michael (Darla) Lake, Layton; Edith (Gary) Robbins, Payson; Brian (Carol) Lake, Layton; 15 grandchildren, 34 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren; sisters: Linda (Andrew) Heaton, San Diego, CA; Elaine (Earl) Gowin, Flowell. She was preceded in death by her husband: Ned; grandson: Kasey Hunt; siblings: Milton, Dora Smith, Stanley, Donald, Clyde, and Rea Stevenson.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 29 at 1:00 pm at the Delta 6th Ward LDS Chapel, 125 S White Sage Ave, Delta. A viewing will be held prior to the funeral from 11:30-12:40. Burial will be at the Leamington Cemetery.