Ruth Marie Johnson Earnest

9/29/1939 ~ 4/21/2012
Ruth, who was healthy, vibrant, and active, developed metastatic breast cancer and passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by her children on April 21, 2012. Ruth was always a very kind, loving and compassionate person who was dedicated to her family and religion. She was always ready to help others in any way she could and was always kind and spoke respectfully of others. Even in the last weeks of her illness she took the time to visit others whom she knew to be ill. She had a special talent and love of gardening and was known to be able to make anything grow. She also had a passion for birds and had many bird feeders. Mom's beautiful yard was a haven to birds of all kinds and she loved to look out her back window to watch them. She loved crocheting items for her loved ones, was an avid reader and much preferred a good book for pleasure. Born the 4th of 5 children in Caldwell, Idaho, September, 29, 1939 to Clifford Lewis and Afton Thueson Johnson. Ruth loved dolls, horses, and life on the farm. Ruth was highly intelligent, loved to learn and was proud that she earned a Bachelor's degree at BYU in Nutrition and Child Development. Upon the completion of her degree, Ruth served her first of three missions in Oslo, Norway from '62 to '64, then worked at the Genealogical Society in Salt Lake City. There she met the love of her life, Joseph Nelson Earnest, while at church. They then married in December of 1969 in the Salt Lake temple. Throughout their happy marriage they had 5 children. During this time Ruth also worked at Wheeler Historic Farm and often voiced that it felt like a second home to her. As an active and faithful member of the LDS church she served in the Inner Salt Lake City Mission from '97 to '99 with her husband. After his passing in 2003, she served a full-time mission at age 65 in the Washington D.C. North Mission from '06 to '07. Ruth also volunteered at the Jordan River temple for the last 4 1/2 years of her life and was saddened when she could no longer volunteer. Ruth was an amazing wife and mother who seemed to have endless amounts of love and patience, and her kids were honored to care for her in her own home until the very end. Ruth is survived by her siblings, Don Johnson, DeRae Hansen, Carol Michie and Peter Johnson; her children, Ivonna Earnest (Josh Stippich), Marlene Sisson (Jason), Benjamin Earnest (Michelle Birk), Elisa Earnest-Partridge, and Sheri Earnest (Conor Dow); and grandchildren, Irie, Gabe, James, Jake, Charly, Gigi, Halle, Lola and Chloe. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband and parents.
A viewing will be held Thursday, April 26, 2012 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary, 4760 S. State St., in Murray. Funeral services will be held Friday, April 27, 2012 at the Murray Utah West Stake building located at 5750 S. Nena Way at 1:00 pm, with a viewing held one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at Murray City Cemetery.