Our lovely mother is rejoicing with her Heavenly Father and Savior today for the earth has lost a valiant soul. Mom loved hymns and might be singing in the heavens with her eternal companion Ross, her siblings and her parents. She must be delighted to be able to converse, share memories and do math problems again after suffering 11 long years with Alzheimer's.

Born on October 3rd, 1928, to Anna and Drew Alger, she spent her formative years in Sheridan, Wyoming. After finishing High School, she was determined to leave home and set her sights on BYU where she met her goals of graduating with a degree in education and receiving a marriage certificate. She was sealed to her best friend Ross V. Bulkley in the Idaho Falls Temple on August 4, 1949 and thus commenced a lifetime of service and love for others.

Called to a church service mission as a couple from 1952-1955, she taught homemaking skills at the newly dedicated Liahona School in Tonga. She developed a great love and respect for the Tongan people which continued throughout her life. With three young children they were asked to return to Tonga in 1962 where they ran the Neumate plantation for three more years.

Mom loved the Relief Society and served in leadership positions for the LDS organization in Ames, Iowa; Hyde Park, Utah and Salt Lake City until she could no longer do so due to Alzheimer's. She also volunteered for many civic and political causes throughout her life.

Following Ross's passing in 1985 she moved from Hyde Park to Salt Lake City to do genealogy and served as a missionary in the Genealogy Library from 1989-1996. She traveled during that time as well with trips to the Holy Land and the South Seas.

We, her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are so proud of her example to us of lifetime learning, of selflessness and love for others. She is a beautiful soul.

We love and want to thank the staffs at Cottage Glen, and especially LifePath Hospice caregivers that have been so good to her.

A celebration will be held to honor her life on Wednesday, January 26, 2011, 11:00 a.m. at McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 South Redwood Road. Friends and family may gather from 9-10:45 a.m. prior to services. Interment will be at the Hyde Park City Cemetery.

Deseret News - Jan. 25, 2011.