Ruth Ann Jespersen

RUTH ANN JESPERSEN Graveside services for Ruth Ann Jespersen will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 17 at Cedar Grove Cemetery. Ruth Ann was born at the family homestead, on the kitchen table, May 24th, 1942 in Mancos, the daughter of Mark and Esther (Willden) Everett. She passed away on Monday, February 12th, 2007 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The beloved wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend was 64 years old. Ruth Ann’s love for music began early and continued through her life, as well as her love for dolls. She was often busy creating her own doll clothes. Ruth Ann loved having fun as a teenager, including her infamous unicycle rides. She studied at BYU Hawaii before serving as a missionary in the Texas Mission from 1961 to 1962. Ruth Ann continued her college studies at BYU in Provo, Utah. On July 17, 1964, she married Earl Thomas Jespersen in the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They made their home in Houston, Tex. where they raised their four children. They also lived in Chicago and Virginia. Ruth Ann served in a multitude of ward and stake positions in the church and loved being of service to family, friends and others. She especially enjoyed her involvement in the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, DUP. Ruth Ann served a second LDS mission, as a single sister, in the Temple Department for the Church. She loved everything to do with fabric and more often than not, pieced together beautiful handwork only to give them to others. She loved hardanger, cross-stitch, pulled thread, red work, crocheting, hedebo, hand quilting, sewing, and smocking. Ruth Ann also enjoyed activities like basketry, reading and music. Surviving Ruth Ann are her four children, Paul Jespersen and wife, Anastasia of Kilmarnock, Va., Brent Jespersen and wife, Jill Perelson of Salt Lake City, Utah, Mark Jespersen and wife, Amy of Price, Utah and Karen Berthelson and husband, Bret of Menomonee Falls, Wis.; ten grandchildren; and four siblings. She was preceded in death by her father, Mark Franklin Everett; her mother Esther Corilla Willden; and her husband, Earl Thomas Jespersen. Funeral services are to be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 16 at Lark Mortuary in Salt Lake City, Utah. Memorial contributions may be made in Ruth Ann’s name to the Temple Patron Fund or the Humanitarian Fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.