Rest In Peace, Dear Sister Pat Callister

Frances (“Pat”) Callister passed into eternity on Sunday, 13 January 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah, after a brief illness. She was born in Logan on 18 June 1923, the second of five daughters of Seth Langton and Orita Smith Barber. She spent her young years and was educated in Lewiston, Utah. She had a very happy family life with a mother who taught her homemaking skills, and a father who taught principles of thrift, honesty, integrity and performing one’s civic and patriotic duties. 

The Barber girls were expected to save for their college education and each graduated from Utah State University - Pat with a degree in journalism. Pat belonged to Kappa Delta sorority, and served as student body secretary her senior year. During WWII she worked as a secretary at Bushnell Military Hospital in Brigham City, and after the war worked in the Dean’s office at University of Utah Medical School where she met medical student John William (Jack) Callister, and they married on 29 May 1947 (later sealed in the Oakland LDS Temple). Upon completion of Jack’s medical training the family relocated to Reno, Nevada, where they raised their four children. Pat was involved in Relief Society, PTA, Nevada Opera Guild, and many other civic and church activities. She was a champion bridge player and enjoyed the game immensely throughout her life. The family cabin at Alpine Meadows, California, was the family retreat for holidays, honeymoons and vacations, and was the place where so many wonderful memories were made. With all the children married and Jack retired from his medical practice, the cabin became the couple’s summer residence and sunny St. George their winter home for the next 33 years. 

Pat is survived by her husband, Jack; sisters, Ann Louise (Fletcher), and Carolyn (Mathis); daughter Ann Croft (Ken), sons John (Suzanna), Michael (Ronda) and Robert (Michelle); 14 grandchildren, and 37 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and sisters Janet (Ferguson) and Elizabeth (Bateman). 

Francis and John were best known to the B7 Ward as Pat and Jack. They were “the best” and have been missed since they left St. George to return to Salt Lake to be closer to family. Our thoughts and prayers are with Jack and his family.

Til We Meet Again, Br. Garth Larsen

Br. Garth D Larsen, 96, had a long-awaited reunion with his loving wife Cleo and his Heavenly Father on Sunday, January 13, 2019. Born June 18, 1922 in Emery, Utah to Lewis Oliver and Florence Elizabeth Mortensen Larsen, he married Cleo Alena Rich on January 2, 1943 in San Francisco, California.  They celebrated the evening sharing a hot dog on Market Street before he left to serve in World War II. Their marriage was solemnized in the St. George Temple on June 24, 2000.

He was raised in Emery, attended Emery High School where he participated in track, tennis, and played the trumpet in a local dance band. He also attended Weber State University, then served in the U.S. Navy in 4 different war regions during WWII.  After an honorable discharge, he and his sweetheart made their home in Price, Utah, where Garth worked at the local bank starting as a teller and working his way up to regional manager for Zions Bank.  He enjoyed the relationships he built helping the local people of Price for 43 years.  He enjoyed golfing with his friends at the Carbon Country Club and later after retirement to St. George in 1987 continued his love of golf at the Bloomington County Club.  His family was his top priority and any chance he got to spend time with them camping, fishing, or on vacation is what made him most happy.

He is survived by his children Debi (Bert) Leeflang; Todd (Sherry) Larsen of St. George, Utah; Freddie Larsen of Salt Lake City, Utah; 10 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his sweetheart Cleo, son Richard,  his parents and 2 brothers.

Funeral services will be held Friday, January 18, 2019 at Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S Bluff Street, St. George, Utah at 11 am. Visitation will be held Friday morning from 9:30-10:30 prior to services.  Interment will be held in the St. George City Cemetery.  The family would like to thank the doctors and staff at the Southern Utah Veterans Home in Ivins, UT for their loving care provided over the last 6 months.

Rest in peace, Br. Larsen. You will be missed.

Farewell, Sister Ruby Briggs

Ruby Margaret Briggs, age 93, passed away peacefully at the Bloomington home of her daughter Karen and son-in-law Pat Robinson on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 - just one month after Pat's mother Ruby Robinson passed away.  Sister Briggs has now returned to Salt Lake City where she was born to John and Aagot (Haakensen) Henriksen in the fall of 1925. She graduated from South High School in 1943 and married her sweetheart, Calvin Briggs for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake City Temple in the fall of 1949. Together they raised 4 children. Ruby and Cal had celebrated 59 years together just prior to his death in 2009. 

She loved teaching her friends and family about her Norwegian heritage, especially the food. She had many wonderful talents including sewing, quilting, and crocheting. She was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and magnified her many callings throughout the years. Ruby was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great- grandmother and lived to welcome her first great, great-grandchild into the world. Family was everything to her. 

Ruby is survived by her children Mike (Paula) Briggs, Judy (Duane) Nebeker, Karen (Pat) Robinson; daughter-in-law Carol Briggs, 12 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and 1 great, great- grandchild. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Calvin Briggs, son John Briggs, granddaughters MaryAnn and Jennifer Briggs, and 2 brothers John and LeRoy Henriksen. 

Sister Briggs, you were only in our ward for a brief time, but we are grateful for the example you set for all of us in faithfully enduring to the end.  Condolences to Karen and Pat Robinson and other members of the Briggs family.