Toria Thomsen Egbert

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Toria Thomsen Egbert passed away on Friday evening, April 6, 2012, at the Wasatch Care Center in Ogden, Utah.

Toria was born July 1, 1917 in Randers, Denmark. She attended grade school there; her mother, Helga Hansine Andrea Jensen, and she were converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her family emigrated by boat to the United States on November 27, 1928 with the assistance of the Church''s Perpetual Emigration Fund (for which she was ever grateful).

Her family took the train from New York to Salt Lake and first settled in Goshen, Utah. She was so happy to be here in America and immediately started learning English; though she always admitted that the first words she learned (and continued to use throughout her life) were swear words that she was taught by the boys her age. After two years, the family moved back to the Salt Lake/Magna area. There, her mother married Karl M. J. Thomsen (Paba) on February 2, 1933 in the Salt Lake Temple (on which date she was also sealed to them). She grew up in Salt Lake and graduated from West High School in 1937. After graduating from high school, she worked in the dry goods department at Kress''s Department Store. She loved dancing (especially at the Terrace Ballroom), movies, and fun activities with her friends at Saltair.

The family moved to Layton, Utah in 1944, where they began raising and showing small dogs. From that residence, she walked to work at Farmer''s Union (where she served as a buyer for several years). The dog-raising enterprise grew so large that the family moved and started Skyline Kennels in Kaysville.

At that time, her friend at work (Lorilee Simmons) wanted to line her up on a blind date with a farmer kid, Dean Egbert, from West Layton. Though at that time she would not have "been caught dead" on a farm (she was a city girl), she agreed because he was so good looking. They dated and were married on January 15, 1949 at the Salt Lake City Courthouse. They were later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on June 26, 1958. They resided at 320 Angel Street in Layton and thereafter moved to her current residence.

Later in 1949, their only child (the love of their life) was born. Toria spent the rest of her life as a homemaker, wife, and mother. She prided herself in spotless housekeeping. She was an excellent cook and seamstress but did not love either. She grew to love farm living and was proud to be a "farmer''s wife," but never got over being afraid of the animals and the machinery. Her best friend was her daughter.

Believing that education was important and wanting to help the teachers, she started working in the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) at Layton Elementary and continued to work in Central Davis Junior High School PTA and Davis High School PTA during the 1950s and 1960s. She served in several offices in each organization, ultimately being chosen as the president of each. Not thinking that she should serve without being an American citizen, she became as naturalized citizen on November 19, 1958.

She was a member of the Layton Utah Second Ward, the Greenbrier Ward, and the Angel Crossing Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She held positions as Primary President for several years, a Primary teacher and a Junior Sunday School teacher.

She loved being a member of the Layton Ladies Literary Club, maintaining her membership for over 40 years serving as an officer and presenting book reviews (when forced or she could get her daughter to do it). She loved the Utah Jazz (enjoying tickets on the front row a couple of times at their games and never missing a game when on television where you could find her sitting about three feet from the screen yelling at the coaches, players and referees) and the BYU Cougars. She loved to travel (especially returning to Denmark to visit her family), Mrs. Cavanaugh''s chocolates (especially Victoria Rums), and Crispy CrAme doughnuts.

She is survived by her daughter, La Dean E. (N. Randy) Smith, her brother-in-law, Keith Bagley, her nieces and nephews, and numerous cousins in Denmark. Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband, Dean J., and sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law whom she loved dearly.

For the last couple of years of her life, Toria lived at the Wasatch Care Center in Ogden. We thank the staff so much for the friendship and care they gave to her and for allowing her to live her life with dignity. They are so wonderful; they are like family to us! We also thank Hearts for Hospice for the kind, considerate comfort and care they have provided to her and to us in these past few weeks.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, April 12, 2012 at 11 a.m. at the Angel Crossing Ward, 505 South 1000 West, Layton, Utah. Friends may visit family on Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist''s Kaysville Mortuary, 400 North Main, and Thursday at the church from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m.

Interment, Kaysville City Cemetery.