Ruth Ann Jones Nielsen, age 85, passed away on Dec. 5, 2023, in Mesa, Arizona. She was born Nov. 4, 1938, in American Falls, Idaho, to George and Emily Irene Bartholomew Jones. She married Gail D Nielsen on Feb. 14, 1963, in the Idaho Falls Temple.
Ruth was raised in Neeley, Idaho, on the family farm. As the only child and a daughter of farm folk, she would often tease the hired hands by catching live mice in the field and scaring them with them. She would often feed these mice to her pet cats. She loved animals, especially cats. She would often speak of her pets from her childhood including Daisy the cow. Her neighbors always enjoyed watching her walk her cats on a leash around the park behind her home. They are still talking about it years later.
She was always in the service of others, both in the community and church. She received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Idaho State University and became a registered nurse and worked in Idaho and Utah before and after raising her family. In this capacity, she was able to assist President Russell M. Nelson in surgery until she had to transfer out due to passing out from locking her knees. Ruth was often involved in organizing and holding community and church blood drives. She held many other callings in the church, including time spent as a ward clerk in a student ward. She and her husband, Gail, served in the St George Temple for many years.
Ruth loved gardening and had 50 rose bushes in front of her home in Holladay, Utah, all the years they were there. She continued the tradition when they relocated to St George after her husband’s retirement. She’d spend hours pruning and weeding them. She also enjoyed sewing. She made most of her clothing throughout her life. She enjoyed quilting with her mother and for many years thereafter. In fact, in the last couple years of her life, with her daughter, Ruth made quilts for all her family members. She enjoyed traveling and fulfilled a dream by going on a Caribbean cruise and visiting Hawaii a couple of years before her passing.
They have three children Mark (Gama Rubio) Nielsen, Sonja Julene Nielsen (Kurt) Kramer, and Arlin George Nielsen who passed away in May of this year. She also has two grandchildren Krystyna Nicol and Kamryn Nielsen Pali Kramer.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Dec. 9, at 11 a.m., at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at 1222 East Brigham Road, St. George, Utah. A viewing will be held there prior from 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Internment will take place in Tonaquint Cemetery at 1777 South Dixie Drive, St. George.
Friends and family unable to attend are invited to click here to view the services online.
Her family wishes to express gratitude for the loving care provided to her through Hospice of the Valley and Live Well Senior Care in Arizona.
Arrangements are under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S Bluff St., St. George, 435-673-2454. Family and friends are invited to sign Ruth’s online guest book.