Life Sketch of Loanda Johnson Roberts by Jeaneen Sullivan and Rhea Miner read by Laura Roberts
February 4,1921-September 14, 2012
Loanda Johnson Roberts was a virtuous woman. We grew up hearing our father tell us about those qualities he admired in our mother. She was born February 4, 1921 in Meadow, Millard County, Utah but their home was in Flowell, a few miles west of Fillmore. It got it's name from the artesian flowing wells throughout the community that provided fresh flowing water into their homes year round. She was the fifth of 8 daughters and as they liked to say, "they all had a brother," John Avalon, known as Bub. The girls names were Viola, Maurine, Velma, Eda, Loa (Mother), Twyla, Dot and Reva. They were a united fun-loving family who loved to dance, sing, play games and work together. "Hoe to the end of your row," was a favorite quote of their mother as they worked in the garden. Mother memorized and used that type of teaching with us a lot.
Because their dad played many instruments in a dance band, they went to a dance in one of the nearby towns almost every Saturday night. We grew up hearing the names of Scipio, Kanosh, Elsinore, Meadow and Fillmore. The girls favorite part was their turn in dancing with their Dad because he was such a good dancer and he always danced with each one of them.
She loved school and was a good student and athlete, with volleyball and basketball being her favorite sports. Algebra was NOT her favorite, and she told us many times that she still hasn't found "X."
She worked for several years in a restaurant owned by her sister's family, plus other restaurants, and learned to cook and serve and move fast to keep up with all the work. As children we were always grateful she could make 10 pies without hesitation or thinking it a burden!
For Christmas and the 24th of July celebration every year, all 8 daughters got a new dress, made by their mother. Mother loved those celebrations and those new dresses.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was a prominent part of their lives. Mother had a life changing experience as a young girl that was truly meaningful. She went to a Sacrament Meeting where she heard the report of a newly returned sister missionary. She heard words, many new to her, that touched her heart: atonement, apostasy, reformation, restoration, plan of salvation and endure to the end. She asked the sister afterwards how she knew all that and was told that her mission had taught her. From then on, Mother knew she wanted to serve a mission. At the age of 19, she was called to go to the North Central States Mission. Instead of the Denmark she had hoped for, she was sent to Minneapolis, Minnesota where much to her delight, she found many of her Danish relatives. What great joy that was! Her father used to live there, but was not a member of the church at that time, nor was any of his family.
Two weeks into her mission she received a telegram that her beloved mother, Mary Ethel Bushnell Johnson had passed away. She went home to the funeral and then came back to her mission. That decision impressed her District President, Elder Wesley Roberts, as did her dedication to her mission. He returned home 6 months before she did and we still have all the letters written between them. He met her, Sister Johnson, at the train station in Salt Lake City, as she returned home. They had never dated or met each others parents, but her father and a few others joined them as they were married in the Manti, Utah Temple a few days later, October 15, 1942. That sounds very rushed, but it was in the middle of World War II and gasoline and many other products were rationed so travel was limited.
The first year of their married life they lived in Kilgore, Idaho and then purchased an 80 acre farm south of Idaho Falls, Idaho. There they had the first 8 of their 9 children--Jeaneen, Rhea, Joseph Wesley, Sally, Judy, Ethel, Frank Lloyd, and Fred J. They raised crops animals and kids. People often heard our parents say they were not raising crops, they were raising kids. In 1958 they bought a larger farm on the banks of the Snake River near Ontario, Oregon where their last son, Russell Glen was born. Throughout our teenage years all 9 of us had friends working on our farm moving sprinkler pipes and doing the farm work with us. Mother mothered all of them and later they had many foster children in our home. She was also active in the community and served and cared for many neighbors and friends.
Mother was a homemaker. She was "Home-made With Love". She loved being a wife, mother, secretary, bookkeeper, gardener, canner, seamstress, a good friend and neighbor as well as helping Dad with the farming. She loved a party and was always game for a reunion, a picnic, a wienie roast, a card game, an Easter egg hunt, to go fishing or to just have fun.
Their extended families were always a powerful force in their lives. They knew and loved all of them. Mom and Dad made the effort to visit any family wherever they were. Families and friends were always welcome in their home. Mother could feed the masses as easily as her family and people loved to be around her.
They had a plaque in their home, "Grandchildren are God's reward for growing old!" It is a good thing because they eventually got 59 of them and mother delighted in being a Grandma. Every grandchild has a story to tell and many memories, especially about her teeth popping out!
As they became empty nesters, they decided to serve missions and eventually served 5 missions together as well as serving faithfully as temple patrons. She spent countless doing family history research. Touching lives and sharing the gospel was just a part of her and Dad.
Dad died 5 and 1/2 years ago. Mother did not like being alone. It was not her style! Her son Russell and his wife Laura were willing to welcome her into their home for the next few years where their family tenderly cared for her. A little over a year ago her daughter, Sally and husband, Bill Paxman wanted a turn, so they brought her to their home in St. George, Utah. Here she spent the remainder of her days bringing sweet memories to all who were around her.
Mother grew up singing with her family. She knew many many sad songs and love songs that she would sing to us to pass the time while traveling or whenever! She also loved the hymns. As she has grown older, singing with her has been tender to all of us. These past few months, whenever we asked Mom what she wanted to sing, it has always been, "Goin' home. Goin' home. I am goin' home! or "Show me the way to go home. I'm tired and I wannna go to bed!"
Our precious dear Mother--you have gone home! Good-by. We will miss you and we love you.