Ruth Sandgren

Ruth Tillotson Sandgren, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, peacefully slipped away from her mortal life at the age of 96 into a better place, greeted by welcoming loved ones, on November 29, 2016  in Provo, UT.  She was born Dec. 4, 1919 in Ogden, UT, to Charles Ephraim and Alta Lenora (Shurtliff) Tillotson, the second of five children.  She married Edward Arthur Sandgren on August 25, 1941 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.  He preceded her in death  November 27, 2008 at age 94.

Ogden was home up through young womanhood years.  She was an outstanding all-around student and developed her piano and vocal music talents.  In her pursuit of a music education she received an Associates of Arts from Weber Junior College in Ogden, UT, studied at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, and received a Bachelor of Arts (Music Major)from Brigham Young University in Provo, UT.  One day while rehearsing in a BYU practice room, her angelic voice was overheard by Edward, a graduate student and assistant director of a choral class in which she had enrolled.  It was a love for music and each other that brought them together in marriage.

Her husband's pursuit of further education, wartime work obligations, and employment, resulted in stops in New York City, Burbank, CA, Cedar City, UT, and Provo before settling in Ogden.  The next 12 years there were busy raising a family, serving in the LDS church, singing in and touring with the Ogden Choral (a civic choir organized and conducted by Edward), teaching piano and voice lessons,  and pursuing a teaching certificate through BYU, U of U and USU Extension Centers.  Upon obtaining the certificate in 1961, she began teaching 3rd grade in the Weber School District.  In 1964, the family moved to Orem, UT where they lived for five years before moving into the dream home they built at the mouth of Rock Canyon in Provo.  Upon this relocation,  she continued her teaching career in the Alpine School District.  She remained dedicated to raising her family and committed to outstanding teaching until retiring in 1981.

Throughout her life, Ruth was relentless in her pursuit of learning, with her study centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ, in her retirement years.  During her life she seized many opportunities to share and exercise her vocal musicianship, singing in church choirs in addition to her participation in renowned civic choirs in both Cedar City and Ogden.  She continued faithful in her church service and lived her life in harmony with the principles of the gospel.  Perhaps her signature character traits are those of always speaking kindly of others and having a genuine love for everyone.  Her mother instilled in her and her sisters the love of family history work.  They never had the advantage of modern technology in their research but they pursued the work tirelessly and compiled a vast amount of history.

During the later years of Edward's life, Ruth labored tirelessly caring for him in his poor health and upon his passing she was worn out and ill.  In between two major surgical procedures, Rene Graves, daughter, cared for her in her home for a period of time.  For the past six plus years she has resided at Courtyard At Jamestown Assisted Living in Provo.  We especially appreciate their care for her in the memory care unit during the last three years, along with the additional care provided by ComfortWorx Hospice the past six months.

Ruth is survived by her five children:  Rene (Ed) Graves of Snowflake, AZ; Art (Carol) Sandgren of Orem; Lucille (John) Blake of Riverton; Charles (Mignon) Sandgren of Orem; David Sandgren of Bountiful; her sisters Sarah Allred of Layton, age 91, and Charlotte Burgoyne of Tempe, AZ, age 89; 28 grandchildren; 62 great-grandchildren and 2 great, great grand-children.  She was preceded in death by her husband, her brother Charles at age 10, her sister Margaret T. Andersen, at age 91, and her grandson Thomas E. Sandgren, at age 7 weeks.

Funeral services will be held Monday, December 5, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. in the Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary Chapel, 495 S State St., Orem, Utah.  A viewing for friends and family will be held prior to the service from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m.  Burial will be in the Pleasant Grove City Cemetery.  We appreciate the outpouring of love, support and service that has been given to our family at this time.