Leah Whiting Skinner

Leah Whiting Skinner was born on August 23, 1936, and left her earthly home on December 29, 2024, at the age of 88.

Leah was born in Mapleton, Utah, a daughter of Victor Whiting and Maud Bentley Whiting. She grew up in Mapleton with her three sisters and four half-sisters. Her father died when Leah was three years old which left her mother to raise eight girls. Leah remembered warming a brick on the wood-burning stove and taking it to bed to stay warm during the cold Mapleton winter nights. She attended elementary school in Mapleton, and middle and high school in Springville. When she was older, she was a waitress at several cafes. As Leah worked, she was able to purchase a 1954 Ford, she was proud of her first car. She moved to Kansas in 1955 to live with her sister Creta and was there for two years.

While back home living with her mother she liked to take her car and cruise Center Street in Provo. At center one night she was introduced to a blonde hair blue eyed tall skinny handsome man from Orem named Murray W. Skinner. They dated for three months, then one night Murray said to Leah, my dad is the bishop and can arrange the church to marry us. Murray and Leah were married by Bert Skinner on September 25, 1959. They lived in an apartment in Springville while Murray was working for Leonard Judkins as a carpenter making 50 cents an hour. Money was tight for them. Leah remembered sharing a hot dog with Murray for dinner.

 June 21, 1960, Murray and Leah were blessed with a cute little girl and named her Terri Lyn. Leah had complications with the pregnancy so Terri ended up being the only child. The family lived in Springville for two years then bought Leah’s mother’s house in Mapleton after Maud passed away.

In 1972 Murray purchased property on his father’s homestead in Orem and built their home there. Leah started working for JC Penney at the University Mall in 1973 as a drapery specialist. She was awarded $5000.00 for referring the most decorating sale contacts. Leah loved working in the drapery department and worked there for eighteen years. She loved to go, it didn’t matter where, as long as it got her out of the house. Almost every day Leah would load up the car with Terri and the neighborhood friends, make sure she had a meal prepared for Murray, then off to Saratoga pool and amusement park for the rest of the day. The family went on many vacations with numerous cousins.

In 1984 Terri met Albert Nystrom while they both were working at McNally Mountain States Steel in Lindon. Albert and Terri were married in 1986 and Leah always said that Albert was her favorite son-in-law. Leah became a grandma in 1988 with a granddaughter named Natalie. Then in 1991 became a grandma again with a granddaughter named Shauntae. Natalie and Shauntae loved spending time with their grandma during grandma days which created a special bond.

Leah was an excellent cook. She loved baking pies and cherry-filled cookies which she delivered to her family and friends. She was an excellent seamstress, always making dresses and costumes for her two granddaughters. She loved working with her hands, making homemade quilts which she donated to Primary Children’s Hospital. She embroidered many dishtowel sets and homemade aprons for upcoming wedding gifts.

Leah was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She served in many callings including primary teacher and counselor in young women’s. She was a great example to those around her and had a strong testimony of Jesus Christ. Murray and Leah were sealed in The Provo City Center Temple on October 3, 2018. Family was always the most important part of Leah’s life. People loved being around Leah because of her spunk and fun personality.

Leah is survived by her daughter Terri Lyn (Albert Nystrom), granddaughters Natalie (Charles Furse) Shauntae (Devin Anderson) a great-grandson, and many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her parents, Victor Whiting and Maud Bentley, husband Murray W. Skinner, sisters, LaVina (Lamar Averett), Creta (Donald Danner), Gay (Newell Law), and infant brother Victor Whiting. Four half-sisters, Floy Harmer, Beth Baker, Jane Olsen, and Eliza Jean Wilson.

Leah’s family would like to thank the staff at Spring Hollow Care Center and Applegate Homecare and Hospice in Orem for the loving care and support they gave to Leah.

An evening viewing will be held for family and friends on Friday, January 10, 2025, from 6-8 PM at the Lakeview 3rd Ward LDS Chapel, 450 West 1800 South, Orem. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the Lakeview 3rd Ward LDS Chapel, located at 450 West 1800 South in Orem, with a viewing held that morning at the Church from 9:30-10:30 A.M. prior to the 11:00 A.M. funeral service. Burial will be in the Orem City Cemetery Military section, 1520 North 800 East, Orem.

Condolences for the family may be expressed on this page.

For those unable to attend the services, they will streamed starting at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 11, 2025, via YouTube Live at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FOmU1gGxME