Martha Rose Mkina

With heartfelt sorrow, we share the news of Martha Rose Mkina’s passing following a tragic vehicle accident.

Martha was born on January 28, 2005 to Abel Mashauri Mkina and Lauren Michelle (Anderson) Mkina, and raised in South Ogden, Utah. She left us on November 20, 2025 just two months before her 21st birthday.

Martha was a radiant light, gentle in spirit, fierce in love, and unwavering in her kindness. She carried joy wherever she went, ever smiling and touched countless lives with her warmth, generosity, and unshakable strength.

Martha truly had a larger-than-life personality. She always had a plan for everything. Even for smaller things that were months out, she had a schedule ready. She knew exactly what she wanted and worked to achieve those things, while also being intentional and enjoying everything about life. She loved being with friends and always had something to be happy about. She loved cooking, baking, reading, playing piano, listening to music, creating art, making people laugh, fashion, and so much more.

Martha wasn’t someone who could really sit still. She was always busy with friends, school, and work. At times, she even had 3 jobs - Chick-Fil-A, Weber State Student Housing, Minky Couture, and Ben Lomond Dental before finally becoming a Dental Assistant at Oakridge Dental. In addition to all of that, she always made time to volunteer in the community, including church callings, being an usher at Weber State’s theatre, helping train TSA dogs at the airport, planting and decorating at Thanksgiving Point and so much more.

Martha graduated from Bonneville High School in 2023. During her time at Bonneville, she served on the seminary council, was elected prom queen, performed in the Hello Dolly musical production, and served as the Senior Student Body Vice President in her senior year. She then received an associate’s degree from Weber State in April 2024 and is scheduled to receive a posthumous Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology from Weber State in 2025, officially beating her brother Abel’s time in getting a Bachelor’s (which was always a goal of hers). Her goal was to eventually become a Dentist/Orthodontist.

She had a passion for traveling. She has traveled with her family across the United States and abroad - Tanzania, Mexico, London, UAE, South Africa, Qatar. She also took solo trips to visit friends in Hawaii and New York.

Martha is survived by her loving parents, Abel and Lauren Mkina; brothers, Abel Mkina II and Ephraim Mkina II; grandmas Sharon Lee Anderson and Martha Simon Mkina; uncles, aunts, and many cousins. She is also survived by her first and forever love, Charlie Shaffer, and hundreds of friends as well.

She was preceded in death by her grandfathers, Leon K Roman and Ephraim Damali Mkina.

She was a light to everyone she met and will be sorely missed by her parents, brothers, relatives, and friends.

We would like to thank Emergency Responders and Medical personnel who did everything they could to save Martha’s life.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, November 26, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Burch Creek Hollow Ward, 720 Nancy Drive, South Ogden, Utah. Friends may visit with family on Tuesday from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. and Wednesday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church. Interment, Lindquist’s Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Blvd.

Funeral services will also be live-streamed and may be viewed at this link: Zoom Link.

In lieu of flowers, donate to those in need in our community.