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Naomi (“Na”) Abraham Briggs, 91, died Nov. 29, 2020, at her apartment, at New Horizons Care Center, in Lovell, where she had resided for over 10 years.
She was born in Byron, Wyoming, on April 16, 1929, to George Morgan and Margaret Watson Abraham. She and her twin sister Norma Abraham Hessenthaler were the second and third of six children — two brothers and two sisters.
Naomi was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints her entire life, serving in many capacities such as teacher, secretary and ward organist, from the age of 12.
She received her primary education in Byron and graduated from Byron High School in 1947. During her years growing up, she and her sisters and brothers all worked on the family farm and dairy learning early what it meant to work long and hard hours. Following high school, she attended Northwest Community College during the school year 1947 -1948.
She worked as an administrative assistant for the superintendent of schools, School District 1, from 1948 to 1949. Then, in 1949, served an 18-month mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sacramento, California.
Following her mission service, she returned to work for the school district, where she met and married her sweetheart, David Thorley Briggs of Burlington, Wyoming, in the Salt Lake Temple on Sept. 3, 1954. Her husband immediately thereafter joined the Army, serving in Germany while Naomi remained in Byron and continued her work responsibilities with the school district. Upon Dave leaving the military in 1956, he returned to attend school at NWCC, graduating in 1958.
They then packed up and relocated to Pullman, Washington, where Dave attended Washington State University (WSU). Naomi worked as a secretary for a WSU professor as well as working at the Pullman Memorial Hospital as a nurse’s aide from 1958 to 1961. Dave graduated from WSU in 1961 with a degree in vocational agriculture, whereupon they relocated to Byron, and Dave began dairy farming with his father-in-law.
Naomi spent the next two years exclusively raising her young children before re-entering the workplace in 1963 within the Cowley school system.
In 1964, she and her family relocated to Southern California where Dave worked as a deputy probation officer, first in Campo and later in El Cajon. From 1968 to 1978, Naomi owned and managed a licensed day care facility. In 1978, Dave and Naomi relocated back to Byron where Dave worked on the farm with his brother-in-law. From 1980 to 1990, Naomi worked at various locations: North Big Horn Senior Citizens Center, SaveWay gas station, and as a McDonald’s team member.
Naomi loved her children, grandchildren, plus her extended family and their children and people everywhere, always ready with a helping hand to support those in need.
She is survived by her children: David A. Briggs (Sandy) of Lovell; Margaret Ann Jesperson (Chris) of El Cajon, California; Todd A. Briggs (Carol) of North Richland Hills, Texas; Glen A. Briggs (Mitzi) of Powell; Keith A. Briggs of Byron; and Norma Elizabeth Frost (Sean) of Byron; 21 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild on the way!
She was preceded in death by her husband Dave, her parents, her sister Ruth and her brothers George and John.
A graveside memorial service will be held at the Byron Cemetery, 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, under the direction of Haskell Funeral Home.
