Iris Belliston Rosier

Iris Belliston Rosier passed away peacefully at Sunridge Assisted Living Center in Layton, Utah, surrounded by family on Thursday, July 6, 2023. Iris was born in Nephi, Utah, on October 7, 1936, to Ronald Oscar Belliston and Caroline Naomi Topham. She was their second child and eldest daughter and was eventually blessed with an additional brother and four sisters. She shared her early childhood with her older brother and best friend, Spencer. The family moved for short periods of time over her early years because of her father’s beekeeping business or related employment. Some of the places they lived during pollinating seasons were San Bernadino, California; Hall, Montana and Williston, North Dakota.

Iris enjoyed music and learned to play the piano, organ and accordion. Additionally, in high school she participated in band where she played the clarinet. Her musical talents were a blessing to many, especially her family who appreciated her music and the spirit it added to their home. She insisted that each child should learn to play a musical instrument. Some were more successful in this regard than others.

Iris had a life-long love of learning. She especially enjoyed school and was a good student. Iris was honored to be one of the four graduating seniors of Juab High School’s class of 1954 who were chosen, based on scholastic achievement, to give commencement addresses at their graduation.

Throughout her high school years, Iris worked at the Nephi hospital as a nurse’s aide where she became interested in nursing and decided to make it her career. During her senior year she sometimes had responsibility in the nursery. She enjoyed the special opportunity to care for her new baby sister, Ellen, in the hospital nursery when Ellen was born that year. (Ellen was later the nurse at McKay Dee hospital that assisted Iris in the delivery room, and helped Dennis gown-up so he could be present at their baby’s birth when Stephen was born.)

Iris also took business classes in high school and placed well in office skills competitions involving shorthand dictation and typing.

As a youth, Iris’ goals were to attend BYU, become a nurse, and serve a mission. In September 1954, Iris moved to Provo where she became a student in the School of Nursing at Brigham Young University. As a freshman, she shared an apartment with several other girls, one of whom was Jean Rosier. Iris and Jean became good friends during the year, and it was through this friendship that Iris met Dennis Rosier, whom she would later marry. Iris graduated in the third class of the BYU School of Nursing in June 1958 at age 21. After becoming a nurse, she went on to teach nursing at Central Utah Vocational School (now UVU) for just over a year before receiving her mission call.

Iris filled a mission to Sweden for two years. She studied hard and was blessed to learn the language and kept it throughout her life. She had several successes in sharing the restored gospel of Jesus Christ with the people of Sweden. She also spent a portion of her mission serving as secretary to her mission president where she applied her office skills with distinction.

After completing her mission, Iris returned to nursing, during which time she began her courtship with Dennis. They were married in the Logan Temple on December 27, 1962. To  them were born ten children, Richard (Kathleen), Robert (Karen), Julie (Dave) Thacker, Ronald (Shelley), Ryan (Jill), Stephanie (Bart) Mortensen, Stephen (Ann), Kathryn (Matthew) Robbins, Mary Ellen, and Karen (Jeff) Peterson. Fruits of their vigilant parenting efforts have been abundant as Iris and Dennis enjoyed their posterity of 43 grandchildren and currently 10 great-grandchildren.

Through the course of raising her family, Iris was always active in the church and articulate in expressing her testimony of the gospel. She served in several church callings including MIA Chorister, Relief Society Instructor, Primary Teacher, and Ward Music Chairman. For many years she served as transcriber for Patriarch Burton Winters, transcribing from cassette tape many of the patriarchal blessings he gave, some of which included those for her children. Iris was also known for her love of the constitution of the United States, often expressing gratitude for the freedoms and liberty it protects.

Iris was preceded in death by her husband Dennis, daughter Mary Ellen, parents, sisters Joy Harris and Carol Smith, Carol’s husband Weldon Smith, and her grandson Zachary Ryan Rosier. She is survived by her family, and siblings Spencer (Joan) Belliston, Barbara (Paul) Watt, Burtis (Susan) Belliston, and Ellen (Terel) Grimley, and brother-in-law Michael Harris.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 15 at 11:00 a.m. at the Kaysville Rock Chapel at 25 South 200 East in Kaysville, Utah.  Friends may visit with family Friday, July 14, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Kaysville Mortuary, 400 N. Main St., Kaysville, Utah and Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church.

Interment, Kaysville City Cemetery.

Services will be live-streamed and may be viewed by scrolling to the bottom of Iris' obituary page at www.lindquistmortuary.com

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