Ruth Lois (Olson) Anderson

Ruth Lois (Olson) Anderson passed away peacefully from natural causes on Oct 1, 2023 at the age of 92. Ruth was born on August 14, 1931, to Sarah Francis Harris and John Kent Olson in Evanston, Wyoming. She grew up the second of eight children on a ranch 7 miles west of Manilla, Utah in Daggett County.

She loved and honored her family and parents who taught her the value of hard work, thrift, and a love for the gospel and Jesus Christ. Ruth attended the last two years of high school in Gresham, Oregon, where she finished third from the top in her high school class. In addition to her intellect, Ruth also had an incredible gift for music. In high school, she had the leading role in the operetta, "In Gay Havana." In the fall of 1949 Ruth went on to study at Brigham Young University where she graduated in 1954 with a bachelor's degree in elementary education and a minor in music. On the graduation program, her name was listed next to Dallin H. Oaks, because they both graduated with high honors. She was also honored as the top religion student in her graduating class.

After graduating from college, Ruth married Loren Richard Anderson on September 8, 1954 in the Salt Lake Temple. From then on, Ruth put all her energy into her husband and family. Ruth and Loren moved to El Paso Station where Loren was stationed in the army at Fort Bliss, Texas. In Texas, her son, Duwayne Richard Anderson, was born. After the army, they returned to Provo so Loren could finish his master's degree at BYU. One summer, between semesters, they moved to Corona, California where Loren worked as a research assistant at the naval laboratory. Then they returned to Provo again where Morris was born. After Loren completed his master's degree, the family moved to Bellevue, Washington and Loren worked for Boeing. Shortly after moving to Bellevue, Howard was born. About six months later Ruth and Loren bought a house in Kent, Washington where Alisa was born a few months later. Celia, Robert, Annette, and Joseph were all born while the family lived in Kent.

Ruth was a superb singer and sang while she worked at home. She sang as she worked, and she sang as the children played. She sang as her son Howard accompanied her on the piano. She sang, sang, sang all day long, and her children loved it. Ruth was an accomplished seamstress and made most of her children's clothes. She taught her children to sew, play the piano, and sing. She taught them to work in the garden, to cook, clean, and to be industrious. But most of all, she taught her children that she loved the gospel of Jesus Christ with all her heart.

Ruth served as a gospel doctrine teacher in various wards in the Kent area for an accumulated 11 years. She was an unparalleled scriptorian and truly enjoyed memorizing scriptures. She could tell you where to find any citation. In addition to scriptures, she had every verse of every hymn in the hymn book memorized. She was a seminary teacher for 10 years and she worked as a temple worker in the Seattle Temple. She had a great love for poetry and has written many, many poems. All of this occurred while the family resided in Washington for a total of 35 years.

After retiring from Boeing in 1995, Ruth and Loren moved to Vernal, Utah. Celia joined them a year later and they all worked on the Vernal Temple time capsule together. After moving to Vernal, Ruth learned to play the organ and loved it with a passion. She played the organ for the temple and for church sacrament meetings. She even had an organ in her home and played it around the clock. Playing the organ became one of her great joys. Ruth worked in the Vernal temple for 15 years. She became a familiar welcoming face to the patrons. She had a kind, gentle spirit about her that brought patrons peace and solace.

Ruth had a tremendous memory and she memorized hundreds of poems and other literature. Above all, poetry was her favorite artform. She loved to read and write poetry. She also learned Spanish and was asked to play the organ for the Spanish branch and occasionally to speak in the Spanish ward. On July 10, 2014, she had a major neurological event that began a dramatic decline of her physical abilities. The cause of the neurological event remains unknown, but the decline brought about a cessation to her active lifestyle. Her physical abilities were all gradually lost. Even with these difficulties, Ruth never complained and considered all trials to be for her good and learning. As her body declined, her daughter Celia became her caretaker, giving her every attention. Celia cared for her mother through the many difficult challenges, remaining by her side around the clock for nearly a decade. Celia was dutiful and loving to the end. Ruth was an example of patience, kindness, and love.

At the Beehive House where she lived for three and a half years, Ruth met many kind people, and her family is grateful to them for their kindness. The thing Ruth hopes to be remembered by is how much she loved her family. She dedicated her life to them, and they loved and adored her.

She is survived by six siblings, numerous nieces, and nephews, eight children, 30 grandchildren, and 33 great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her sweetheart Loren, her parents and brother Fred, aunts, uncles, and many cousins.

Funeral services for Ruth will be held Saturday October 14 at 12:00pm at the Glines Chapel, 150 South Aggie BLVD. Visitation for family and friends will be Friday from 6:00pm ~ 8:00pm at the Phillips Ashley Valley Funeral Home and Saturday from 10:45am ~ 11:45am at the church. Interment in the Maeser Fairview Cemetery next to her beloved husband Loren. Services under the direction of the Phillips Ashley Valley Funeral Home.

Poem written by Ruth Anderson for her daughter Celia Anderson
Celia
Hair of gold
Eyes of Blue
A gentle heart,
Kind and true,
More than a daughter,
God did lend
A sweet, caring,
Soothing friend.

 

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