Ballard T White

Ballard T. White completed his assignment on earth on Sunday morning, February 15, 2026, three days after his 93rd birthday.

Ballard was born on February 12, 1933, to Reita Luvilla Thurman White and Mondell P. White in Afton, Lincoln, Wyoming. After having lived briefly in Afton and Evanston, Wyoming, the family moved to Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah where Ballard graduated from South High School. Ballard married Jean Ruth Peterson on August 25, 1952, while a student at University of Utah. At the conclusion of his second year at the university. Ballard served a two-year active duty in the U.S. Army, one year of which was in Pusan, Korea. Upon completing a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Brigham Young University. Ballard served in the Education profession for 42 years; 5 years at Phoenix Union High School, Phoenix, Arizona; 3 years in American Samoa; 29 years at Eastern Arizona College in Thatcher, Graham, Arizona. Ballard and Jean were blessed with six girls and two sons. In 1986 their marriage was dissolved. With another wife, Leda Farley White, Ballard served two enjoyable missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Australia, Sydney North and Arizona Phoenix Mission. 

Ballard met his current wife, Brenda Mills while square dancing and round dancing. They were married on June 11, 2020 in Mesa, Arizona, and sealed in the Phoenix Temple. Their marriage has been wonderful and fulfilling, with lots of love, understanding, giving, companionship, and a lot of laughter. Their blended family added 2 children, 6 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and 5 great great grandchildren, whom Ballard considered his own.

Ballard is survived by: his current wife, Brenda; his children: Christine Thatcher (Brent), of Pima, Kathleen Montierth (Brent), of Prescott Valley, Karen Johnson (Steve), of Thatcher, David White, of Winslow, Kathryn Reidhead, of Mesa, Carolyn Clifford (Brent), of Florence, Daniel White (Jackie), of North Las Vegas, Nevada and Carrie Goettl (Eric), of Maricopa; his brother, Clayton White (Merle Tanner), of Orem,Utah; thirty-two grandchildren (with 20 spouses),fifty-four great grandchildren (with two spouses) and two great-great grandchildren, as well as 2 children, 6 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, and 5 great-great granchildren from his wife, Brenda's family.

Funeral services for Ballard are to be held on Friday, February 27, 2026 with a viewing from 12-12:45pm and funeral at 1 pm in the LDS chapel located at 633 S Higley Rd. Mesa, AZ 85206. Internment will be Saturday, February 28 at Noon at the Pima Cemetery (800 South, 400 West, Pima, AZ 85543).

 Link to funeral service here: https://www.youtube.com/@desertvistaward2025