Ruth Johnson

Ruth Genelle Jensen Johnson

November 2, 1922 ~ December 25, 2016

Ruth Genelle Jensen Johnson was born on November 2, 1922 and passed away on Christmas morning, December 25, 2016 at the age of 94. Married to William Earl Johnson in 1942 during World War II, Bill and Ruth celebrated their 74th Wedding Anniversary on December 19, 2016.

Ruth was born in Provo, Utah to Cannon Lavoir Jensen and Florence Hibbert. She looked up to her brother Cannon. Her close relationship with her sisters, Beulah Ann and Joan, blessed her and her children. Ruth graduated from B.Y. High and met her eternal companion dancing on the tennis court with a group of kids from Provo High. Bill and Ruth’s first kiss was on the eve of Pearl Harbor. Bill enlisted early. When Ruth came to visit him in Camden, Arkansas, the “visit” became a marriage and she stayed. Ruth worked as a secretary for the United States Army Air Corps during the war.  During Bill’s first leave, they were sealed in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.

After the war Ruth devoted her life to her family.  She always had a smile and was optimistic, encouraging, and uplifting.  Those who visited could feel her love. Ruth loved to play tennis, tap dance, and square dance. She tap-danced with the Tip Toe Tappers who said “One of the most popular members of the group is 93-year-old Ruth Johnson of Ogden.  She has the biggest smile of all of us.  She is quite an inspiration.”

She loved being a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Ruth and Bill served three missions together in Nauvoo, IL, Manila Philippines LDS Temple, and Temple Square. She loved her Savior and had a testimony of the restored gospel.  She delighted in sharing the Book of Mormon with everyone she met.

Bill and Ruth served five years as hosts at the Conference Center and the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake. Together they were temple workers in the Ogden LDS Temple.

Bill and Ruth raised six children in Ogden, David (late Elsa) of Garland, Texas; Stephen (Tracy) of Ogden; Christine Brown (late Christopher) of Huntsville; and currently serving a mission in Dallas Texas, Thomas (Stephanie) of Salt Lake City; Benjamin (Lori) of Ogden; and Becky Hurst (Mike) of South Weber. She has 34 grandchildren and 46 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 30, 2016 at 11 a.m. at the Highland Ward, 1314 27th St. Ogden, UT.  Friends may visit with family on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. and Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church.  Interment, Ogden City Cemetery.