In Memory

Ruth Pedersen (Leister)

Our loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother and friend passed from this life on January 11, 2019. 

Ruth was born January 13, 1944 in Esbjerg, Denmark, the daughter of Villiam and Thora H. Pedersen. She came to America in May 1947 with her family to gather with the saints in Utah. Schools attended were Sumner Elementary School, Lincoln Jr. High School, South High School, and LDS Business College. She married C. Gordan Delaney on February 14, 1962, later divorced. The she married Daniel G. Leister in the Jordan River Temple on January 5, 1996, and they served together in the Mission Office in the Australia Sydney North Mission from July 2015 to February 2017. 

Being a life-long, devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ruth served faithfully in various callings in all the different auxiliary organizations. She especially enjoyed working on family history research and on anything that had to do with music. She was a baton twirler in the South High School Band. She played the piano for all of her school choirs, as well as church choirs. She was called to be Primary pianist at age 11, ward organist at age 13, and stake organist at age 17. She played the organ or piano in various meetings and programs throughout her life, including playing the piano in Abravanel Hall for the beginning of a Kurt Bestor program. She also taught piano lessons to many children through the years. While in Australia, she felt very privileged to accompany David Archuletta on the piano at a special Pacific Area Mission Devotional. 

Ruth also loved to sing. During her younger years, she frequently sang solos in church and in special productions. She sang the leading role of Celia in the Liberty Stake production of “Promised Valley,” following by 58 more performances as a singing pioneer in that production on the Temple Theater stage. A favorite part of her life was performing with the Sunshine Singers for several years. In her later years, she performed in the Fiddle Soup duo, entertaining at many senior centers, retirement centers, and care facilities. She also enjoyed serving as Ward Choir Director three times. 

Ruth worked most of her life as an executive secretary/office manager for various engineering firms and governmental agencies. She was the project coordinator at the Tooele Army Depot South Area during the four years construction of the Chemical Weapons Disposal Facility. 

Ruth loved her husband, family, friends, and pets, and felt it a privilege to serve them by cooking, sewing, reading, teaching them piano, attending ball games, etc. 

She is survived by her husband, Daniel G. Leister; four children: Kimberly Panos (Mark), Janet Kelly (Rob), Dave Delaney (Tamera), and Kristen Delaney; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; three brothers: Arly Pedersen, David Pederson (Pamela), Ezra Pedersen, and sister-in-law Glenda. Preceded in death by her parents, son Robert Kay Delaney, and brother Mel Pedersen. 

Viewing will be held on Friday, January 18, 2019 from 6:00-8:00 pm at Jenkins-Soffe South Valley, 1007 W. South Jordan Parkway (10600 S), South Jordan, Utah. Funeral services will be at the River Ridge 1st Ward Chapel, 10200 South 1300 West, South Jordan, Utah on Saturday, January 19, 2019 at 1:00 pm, with a viewing from 11:30 am – 12:30 pm prior to the funeral service. Interment at South Jordan City Cemetery.

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