Ila (Wright) Cushing Bolander

Ila Wright Cushing Bolander, (85) our beloved mother, passed away in Salt Lake City, Utah on August 12, 2017. Ila was born on April 21, 1932, to Herbert Emil Wright and Francis Minerva Curtis-Wright. Ila was the 6th of 8 children with siblings: Francis Wright; Melva Jacobsen; Herbert Curtis Wright; Colleen Wright; Garth Stillman (Shirley) Wright; Afton (Bill) Bryant; Stanley Ross (Eddis) Wright.

Ila learned to play the piano at a young age and had a newspaper route to pay for her lessons. Ila was an accomplished piano and organ player throughout her lifetime and taught piano and organ lessons for 50 years.

Ila attended elementary, junior high and high school in Sandy, Utah and was proud to be a Jordan High School Beet Digger. Ila was very well liked and popular throughout her school days. She was the President of the Pep Club in her junior and senior year, and was Class Vice President in her junior year. She played piano in the High School Band and High School Orchestra.

Ila met James "Jim" Warren Cushing while waiting her turn for her piano lesson. Jim was there waiting for his voice lesson - and things blossomed from there.

Ila and Jim were married and sealed to each other in the Salt Lake City, Utah Temple on February 16, 1951. Together they had 6 children, Cheryl (Shay) Carter; Karen (Larry) Van Camp; Mary (Rod) Gilliand; Paula (Dave) Green; Kevin Cushing; (deceased); and Warren Cushing (deceased).

Ila and Jim spent 12 years as a loving couple and family, raising their 4 daughters until Jim passed away November 5, 1963. After Jim died, Ila raised her 4 daughters on her own until she married James "Leo" Bolander on August 11, 1973. Ila said it was a blessing when she met Leo. Ila loved and embraced Leo and all of his children; Delores (Jerry) Runau; Jim (Carol) Bolander; Phyliss Wagner; Daniel (Beverly) Bolander; Kevin (Jill) Bolander and Marne' (Tom) Lester. Overall, with combined families, Ila has 28 grandchildren, 50 great grandchildren and 27 great great grandchildren.

Throughout her lifetime, Ila was a devoted member of the LDS church. Ila's love for the teachings of the church and the gospel led Ila and Leo to be called to serve an LDS mission. They served from 1984 through 1985 at Winter Quarters in Omaha, Nebraska. They talked fondly about their experiences and the wonderful people they met while serving on their mission. In 1984 Ila became a member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.

Ila's compassion, caring and love for everyone led her to serve numerous callings within the church. Some of her callings include: Organizing and leading the Singing Mothers for the Kearns Utah North Stake; Young Women's Camp leader, softball, basketball, and volleyball coach; Relief Society President; Ward Organist/Pianist; Ward Choir; Primary Teacher, and served many years as a temple worker at the Salt Lake City Temple and at the Jordan River Temple.

Ila was preceded in death by her mother and father; 2 sons Kevin and Warren Cushing; husband, James Warren Cushing; husband, James Leo Bolander; siblings, Colleen Wright and Herbert Curtis Wright; grandsons, Benjamin Broderick, Taylor Van Camp, and Johnny Bolander; son-in-law, Tom Lester, and son-in-law, Larry Van Camp.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 19 at 11 a.m. at the Riverton 3rd Ward, 12998 S. 1300 W., Riverton, Utah, where there will be viewings Friday from 7-9 p.m. and Saturday from 10-10:45 a.m. Interment, Midvale City Cemetery.