Ruby Olson Haight, known for her long years of service in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, passed away Sunday, Dec. 5, 2004, of causes incident to age. She was 94.
Sister Haight's death came four months after the death of her husband, Elder David B. Haight, who was 97. Elder Haight was the oldest-ever apostle for the LDS Church.
At Elder Haight's funeral, his son-in-law, Jon M. Huntsman Sr., said the romance between Elder Haight and his wife was legendary. They were the longest married couple ever in the apostles' ranks and would have been together 74 years this past Sept. 4. During the service, fellow apostles also lauded Ruby Haight as a "true heroine" and noted her great influence for good on her husband's long life.
Sister Haight and Elder Haight together were given the "People of Vision Award" from Prevent Blindness Utah in 2000. At the ceremony, award presenter Grethe Peterson said the Haights' "lives have been rich and inspiring," adding that Sister Haight "loved life as a woman" and was "active and contributing in the lives of those she touched."
Sister Haight was born April 18, 1910, to parents of Scandinavian heritage, Peter Olson and Christena Maria Larsen, in Fairview, Utah. She was the youngest of 11 children. Her father died when she was a year old.
When Sister Haight was 8, her mother moved the family to Salt Lake City for better schooling opportunities. She attended Wasatch Elementary School, Bryant Junior High and LDS High School. She was a classmate of Gordon B. Hinckley, who later became president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Sister Haight enjoyed school and loved studying history and the Spanish language. She was involved in music classes and worked to develop her alto singing voice.
Sister Haight met her husband at a school dance while attending the University of Utah. When she later applied for a job at a local hardware store, it was Elder Haight who hired her to work during the summer. Shortly afterward, they began dating.
Sister Haight and her husband were married Sept. 4, 1930, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.
Immediately after their marriage, Sister Haight and her new husband moved to California, where he was employed at a large department store. Her husband served as the mayor of Palo Alto and later they moved to Scotland for three years. Upon their return from Europe, the Haights settled in Provo, where Elder Haight served as an assistant to the president of Brigham Young University. Sister Haight was active in musical productions wherever the family resided.
Surviving Sister Haight are her three children, David B. Haight Jr., Robert Peter Haight and Karen Haight Huntsman. Sister Haight also leaves behind 18 grandchildren, including Utah's governor-elect, Jon M. Huntsman Jr., and 78 great-grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements are pending.