Gertrude Laura Ryberg Garff died at home in Salt Lake City on October 20, 2002 at age 91.
She was born Nov. 2, 1910 in Hyrum, Ut., the oldest of five children of Eric W. Ryberg and Charlotte Critchlow
Ryberg. As a child, she lived in Salt Lake City and attended Uintah Ele-mentary, Roosevelt Junior High, and East High schools. She then attended the University of Utah where she served as president of Gamma Sigma which became Delta Gamma. From 1931 to 1933 she served as an LDS missionary in the Eastern States Mission. She then returned to the U. of U. and graduated in 1935 with a BS degree in Education. In 1981, she received the U. of U. Emeritus Club
Merit of Honor award.
On October 11, 1935 she married Mark Brimhall Garff in the Salt Lake Temple. In 1937, she accompanied Mark to Copenhagen where he presided over the Danish Mission. They served together there until 1939 when the outbreak of World War II caused the Church to close all European missions.
In 1940, she was called to the General Board of the Relief Society where she served until 1945 when, at age 35, she became second counselor to President Belle Spafford in the General Presidency of the Relief Society. She served in that assignment until the birth of her fourth child in 1947 when she was released to care for her family. She remained involved in Relief Society, serving as president of her ward and stake Relief Society, instructor, and visiting teacher.
Amidst life's challenges, she found great joy in life and beauty in the earth, and she reflected them back to those around her. She was an extraordinary cook and gracious hostess. Gertrude loved her cabin at Hebgen Lake in Montana, boat trips to Lake Powell with friends, river trips with son Mark, Denmark and everything Danish, gardening, family, the symphony and opera, good books, Friendship Circle, conversation, history, travel, good food, the out-of-doors, and studying the gospel. She was a bright, wise, cheerful, faithful, exemplary woman and a beloved daughter, sister, wife and helpmeet, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother in the highest and best meanings of each of those terms.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Mark; her son, Mark R. Garff; and a grandson, Daniel Garff. She is survived by her good friend and sister, Afton R. Boyd (William); children Charlotte G. Jacobsen (Theodore M.), Georgia G. Owens (David R.), William R. Garff (Karen A.), and Laura G. Lewis (Robert D.); daughter-in-law, Judy G. Tidwell (Jeff B.); and 21 grandchildren, five English "grandchildren", and 19 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 24th at Parleys 6th Ward, 2350 South 2100 East, Salt Lake City. Friends may call Wednesday evening from 6 - 8 p.m. at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401 South Highland Drive, Salt Lake City and Thursday at Parleys 6th Ward from 11:40 a.m. - 12:40 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Copenhagen Temple Fund are invited (LDS Church, Salt Lake City, UT 84150).