Portia Loosli

1936 - 2025

Portia Reeves Loosli was called home to her Heavenly Parents on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of love, faith, and service.

Portia was born on October 20, 1936, in Brigham City, Utah to her loving parents, Glen and Rachel Reeves. Glen and Rachel worked hard to provide for their five children, of whom Portia was the eldest. Portia was also a hard worker, babysitting, picking fruit, and working at the local grocery store to earn money to buy sheet music. She loved to roller skate, ice skate, and listen to Big Band performers at Lagoon. Following in her parents' musical footsteps, she became an accomplished pianist and often accompanied singing groups in high school and starred in theatrical productions.

In the spring of 1954 when she was a senior at Box Elder High, Portia was introduced to S. Lynn Loosli at an educational fair. Lynn was an enterprising Idaho farm boy studying at Utah State University. After she enrolled in Utah State in the fall, their courtship began. It would culminate in fifty-two years of marriage and result in nine children, twenty-nine grandchildren, and twenty-nine great-grandchildren.

Portia married Lynn in the Logan Temple on December 19, 1956, and moved back to his fledgling farm in Ashton, Idaho. Though Portia had worked in her parents' large garden and the orchards surrounding Brigham City, she hadn't trained to be a farmer's wife. Nevertheless, she took to it wholeheartedly, managing their growing household while Lynn expanded the farm's acreage and its cattle herd. Always capable of feeding a crowd, she excelled in the annual feeding of the potato harvest crews or bull sale buyers as well as any friends or family who just happened to stop by. Her hospitality was her hallmark, there was always room at Portia's table.

She also embraced the small farming community of Ashton, where she served on the school board, led the local chapter of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, ran the Junior Miss program, was active in the Republican Women organization and volunteered in the classroom-particularly in the music department. As her kids grew up, she found fulfilling work and relationships in the American Mother's Program where in 1995 she was named Idaho's Mother of the Year.

Her can-do spirit was manifest in callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where she served as Relief Society President and in the Young Women's programs. She was a devoted visiting teacher and minister. She loved serving in the Idaho Falls and Rexburg temples as a patron and temple worker. When Lynn was called to be the bishop of a student ward at Ricks College, she happily served alongside him, helping young college students adjust to life away from home.

In 2000, Portia and Lynn were called to serve an LDS mission in the Canada, Halifax mission. This proved to be one of their life highlights. A gregarious couple, they made lasting friends in all phases of their lives, and their mission was no exception.

Portia was a lifelong learner. She loved to read, play the piano, and work in her flower garden. As part of the "Harmonettes" sextet, she often shared her beautiful alto voice when performing at school and church functions. An avid cook, she was always trying new recipes even as she perfected family favorites. Ever conscious of her many descendants, she never forgot a birthday and seemed to know how to find just the perfect card to celebrate someone in a unique way.

When asked what "simple pleasures" she enjoyed in life she said:

"Seeing the leaves turn color on Ashton Hill, listening to beautiful music, the laughter of my family as they connect with each other, the little ones who still give me hugs and love the meals I prepare, helping a friend who is having a hard time, a ride in the country especially to see the grain and potato crops, beautiful flowers, and living in a small community where everyone knows each other."

Portia knew and loved those around her and was, in turn, known and loved by them.

Portia is survived by her children; Kathryn (M.J.) Pritchett of Oakland, Calif., Brian Loosli of Ashton, Idaho, Bruce (Connie) Loosli of Irvine, Calif., Michelle Loosli of Alexandria, Va., Joel (Barbara) Loosli of Riverton, Utah, Jayne (Paul) Loosli Derr of Boise, Idaho, Sara (David) Kimball of Piedmont, Calif., Jared (Saren) Loosli of Ogden, Utah, and Aaron (Michelle) Loosli of Salt Lake City, Utah; brother, Stewart Reeves of Mantua, Utah; sister-in-law Sheila Reeves of West Valley, Utah and brother-in-law Dick Christiansen of Brigham City; 29 grandchildren; and 29 great-grandchildren. Portia was preceded in death by her husband Lynn, her parents, Glen and Rachel Reeves, her brothers Darwin and Scott Reeves, her sister Marilyn Christiansen; and her daughter-in-law Karen Skeen Loosli.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, November 8, 2025, at the Ashton LDS Stake Center, 516 N. Second Street, with Bishop David Hess officiating. The family will receive friends Friday evening from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Stake Center and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. also at the Stake Center prior to services. Burial will be in the Pineview Cemetery in Ashton under the direction of Baxter Funeral Home.

For those wishing to make a donation in lieu of flowers, please consider funding pancreatic cancer research at letswinpc.org or supporting women and children through americanmothers.org

The family wishes to give a special thank you to the caregivers at Carriage Cove in Rexburg, Idaho and Spring Gardens in Salt Lake City, Utah for their care and compassion.