Obituary: M. LaPriel Carstens

M. LaPriel Carstens passed away Sept. 25, 2013, in Grand Junction, Colo., at the age of 82. Her family was at her side.
LaPriel was born on May 14, 1931, in Provo, Utah. She was the daughter of Joseph Vern Dunn and Mariana Leora Dunn. At the age of 14, LaPriel and her family moved to the White River Valley in 1945, homesteading a ranch just west of Meeker, Colo.
In Meeker, she met her future husband, Clayton A. Carstens. They were married in the Naval Chapel at Anacostia, Va., on March 7, 1953. They moved to Meeker that same year to begin their 60 years of marriage.
LaPriel is survived by her husband Clayton A. Carstens; two sons, Kelly (Kayla) Carstens of Arvada, Colo., and Rand D. (Julie) Carstens of Reseda, Calif.; grandchildren Emilee Noelle Carstens, Kenton Alex Carstens and Kyle Andrew Carstens; and one brother, Jim (Evelyn) Dunn of Pine Valley, Utah. LaPriel was preceded in death by her brother, J. Vern Dunn.
LaPriel was always loving, caring and sharing. She never met a stranger and visitors never left her home without being offered something to eat or drink.
A celebration of her life for friends and family will be held at a grave site service at the Meeker Cemetery on Oct. 25, 2013, at 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to Hope West Hospice, 3090 North 12th Street, Grand Junction, Colo., 81506.