Leona Elizabeth Nalder Ricks

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Leone Elizabeth Nalder Ricks

FARMINGTON - Leona Elizabeth Nalder Ricks, our dear mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 9, 2011 after suffering a fall a few days prior. She was blessed to have many loving family and friends with her that day and at the time of her death.

Leona was born in Ririe, Jefferson County, Idaho on July 25, 1921 to her wonderful parents Fredrick James Nalder and Hannah Elizabeth Morgan; she was the sixth of seven children. She had a happy childhood and helped with the work on her family''s farm in Ririe. At Rigby High School she developed beautiful penmanship, was voted as the Seminary Queen and "Ag" (Agriculture) Queen. As a young woman, she lived with her beloved sister Norene Nalder Mitchell in the Rigby Hotel and worked as a sales clerk at J.C. Penney.

She later met and married Jay H. Ricks on January 15, 1943 in Rexburg, Idaho and they were blessed with six children: Diana (Ted) Colt, Linda Larson, Dennis (Kathi) Ricks, Rosanne Ricks, Julie (Scott) Mattinson, and Shawn (Carol) Ricks. Leona was a kind and loving mother who took great care of her children. She enjoyed making doll clothes and taking care of her home and family. Leona was later divorced in 1970 and she had to look for work to support her family. She worked for the Internal Revenue Service in Ogden, Utah as a Control Clerk and retired after 25 years of service in 1995. Leona always said how grateful she was for her job and how much she loved it and her many work associates. Over time and with her frugal ways she was able to raise her children and was proud to pay off the mortgage on her home and remain independent. She later volunteered at the McKay Dee Hospital for over six years.

Leona was a faithful lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served in many capacities over the years: Den Mother, Primary Teacher and leader, in Relief Society presidencies, and she was a devoted Visiting Teacher. Leona often visited those who had no other association with the Church, but they willingly let her in due to her kind and gentle personality. She loved reading the Book of Mormon and frequently attended the Ogden Temple.

Leona''s only great hobby in her life was collecting people as her friends. She often said, "I love everyone," and she befriended all, especially the friendless. She had an affinity for children and they loved her. She always kept a box of toys handy for visiting children to play with and made home-made Play Dough for them. She visited and served the elderly and the widows as well throughout her life. She was meticulous in her appearance, always on time, the first one to offer to help, without guile, never held a grudge, didn''t judge others, never wanted to offend anyone, and she made the world''s best hashbrowns. She has 28 grandchildren and 52 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Leona was preceded in death by her father, mother, and all her brothers and sisters.

Funeral services will be held at the Mount Ogden Ward Chapel, 1314 - 27th St. in Ogden, Utah, on Friday, January 14 at 2:00 pm.

Family will meet with friends on Thursday, January 13 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist''s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. and Friday at the Ward Chapel from 12:30 to 1:45 pm.

Interment will be in the Ririe-Shelton Cemetery on Saturday, January 15, 2011 in Ririe, Idaho.

Special thanks to Diana Amman and the staff at Wasatch Care Center and Tami Halford, VistaCare Hospice, for their compassion, care, and patience. The family especially thanks Lilly Russell who has been Mother''s loving caregiver and friend during the past 15 months of her life.

Email condolences to the family at: www.lindquistmortuary.com