Ruth HANSEN

  General Notes:

https://www.deseretnews.com/article/802301/Obituary-Ruth-Hansen-Watkins.html

Ruth Hansen Watkins passed away on Friday, July 28, 2000 in Orem, Utah.

She was born Nov. 6, 1918 in Rexburg, Idaho to V. Emil and Ida Ramseyer Han-sen. She spent her childhood in Provo and Orem, Utah. Like other teenagers, she earned money for clothes and school books by picking berries and fruit in Orem, which was still agricultural during the Great Depres-sion.

Ruth attended elementary schools in Provo and Orem. She graduated from Orem's Lincoln High School as valedictorian of her class and attended BYU for two years. She married Arthur R. Watkins on June 6, 1941 in the Salt Lake Temple. Before and in her early years of marriage, she worked for the First Security Bank and Pacific Cast-Iron Pipe Company.

Always active in the LDS Church, she served as ward organist, a teacher, Primary president and officer in both ward and stake auxiliaries. With her mission president husband, she served two missions for the Church, the first one in Austria as adviser to women's organizations and the second one in Italy. Always interested in civic matters, she served for a time as a member of Orem's Decency Committee.

Bearing and nurturing eight children consumed much of her energy and time. She took six of these children with her on her first mission in Europe. Indeed, she felt comfortable and fulfilled in her career as mother, grandmother and homemaker. Birthdays among children and 42 grandchildren came every week during the latter part of her active life, and she always sent a card and present. Compassionate for the sick and afflicted, hardly a week went by without her taking someone a book, card, or something out of her kitchen.

Ruth's hobbies were flower gardening, quilting, photography and attending local musical performances. She prepared delicious meals for various occasions in the beautiful Orem home and gardens that she designed and decorated.

Ruth is survived by her husband, Arthur; and the following children: Annette Mann (Ron), Ivins, UT; Lynn Watkins (Cherie), Glendale, AZ; Laurel Taylor (Mark), Bountiful; Bryan Watkins (Karen), Morgan Hill, CA; Marie Galbraith (Bruce), Sandy; Denise Burton (Jim), Orem; Paul Watkins (Dena), Cameron Park, CA; Ronald Watkins (Susan), Ogden. She is also survived by her brother, Gordon E. Hansen, Orem; and two sisters: Esther Asay of Provo, and Geraldine Farnworth, Bennion, UT. One brother, Russell Hansen preceded her in death. 42 grandchildren and 25 great-grand-children also survive her.

Funeral services will be Tuesday in the Cascade Third Ward Chapel, 1050 E. 200 North in Orem at 11 a.m. Friends may call at the Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary, 495 So. State, Orem from 6-8 on Monday evening and from 9:30-10:45 at the chapel on Tuesday. Interment will be in the Orem City Cemetery.