Florence Mitchell Russell, 98, died October 6, 2023 in Provo, Utah.

Born January 26, 1925 to Joseph Harold Mitchell and Bertrude Seeley Mitchell. Married Glenn C Russell, August 12, 1947, in the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; brother, Harold S. "Hal" Mitchell; sister, Jo Anne M. Adams; grandson, Richard Russell.

She was a very active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Survivors: sons and daughters, Margaret (Peg) R. Sumens, Murray; Harold W. Russell, in transition from Penticton, B.C., Canada to St. George; Grant Richard Russell (Tessa), Provo; Gordon Stephen Russell (Debi), Montrose, Colorado; Barbara Ann Russell, St. George; 20grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; sister, Peggy M. Dobrusky Tate, St. George; Marilyn Adams, Providence; special niece, Melody Cutler.

A viewing, for family and friends, will be held Sunday, October 15, 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM, at Walker Sanderson Funeral Home, 85 E 300 S, Provo.

Graveside Service will be held on Monday, October 16,11:30 AM at the Parowan Cemetery. Interment: Parowan City.

Note: Mom was born in Safford, Arizona. Her father was born in Parowan and he had a farm and ranch there. Mom spent all of her summers in Parowan.

Our mother was kind, beautiful, intelligent and close to our Heavenly Father. She stayed close to her Heavenly Father through sincere prayer. Her home was filled with love and music. She loved to read and study and instilled those loves in all of us. She was committed to faithful service, not only to her family, but to all she worked with and met.

Our Mom also loved to laugh and had a great sense of humor and was never happier than when she was surrounded by family and friends enjoying themselves. Her grandkids can also confirm that she became very skilled in the subtleties of Uno and Skipbo, although they still have some suspicions as to why she won so often. She was also an amazing cook with many favorite requests from her family from Rhubarb Cream pie and Sour Cream Sugar cookies, to Nuts and Bolts and Lemon Meringue pie - nobody made them better.

Here is a brief history in her own words: I was born in Safford, Arizona on January 26, 1925. My parents are J. Harold Mitchell and Bertrude Seeley Mitchell. I am the oldest child and have a brother Harold Seeley Mitchell and two sisters: Jo Anne M. Adams and Peggy Laurette M. Dobrusky.

Our home was in a happy neighborhood just across the street from Church Square.

My parents had many responsible callings in the church and set a good example for us. The children in our neighborhood called all the other parents 'aunt and uncle' which is why I call President Spencer W. Kimball Uncle Spence and his wife Aunt Camilla.

I attended the South Ward Elementary School. I graduated from Safford High School in May, 1941 and from Gila Junior College (in Thatcher, Arizona) in June 1943 - winning scholarship awards from both schools. During WWII warships recruited service men from the states their ships were named for. I lost many, many friends serving on the USS Arizona, on December 7, 1941.

I worked as a secretary to the Safford School District until January, 1945 and then went to BYU. Three weeks of cold and snow had me ready to go home to Arizona. My dad convinced me to stay and I came to love BYU and many friends. I was valedictorian when I graduated in 1946 with a B. Sc. degree and a teaching certificate.

Meeting Glenn Russell just two weeks before I graduated was the most important life-changing and wonderful event of my college days. He left to attend the University of Massachusetts and we exchanged many letters for a year.

We were married August 12, 1947 in the Salt Lake Temple. We lived in Amherst for two years while Glenn completed his Masters degree. Our oldest daughter was born while we were there on May 24, 1948. In the summer of 1949 we moved to Indiana where Glenn received his doctorate. I typed theme papers, term papers, thesis, and a 360 page book. This helped us have $600 in the bank when we left Indiana, and no student debt.

We moved to Lethbridge, Alberta in December of 1951.Our other four children were born in Lethbridge. Harold William Russell born on June 6, 1952 was a birthday present for Glenn. Twins Grant Richard and Gordon Stephen were another surprise on September 21,1953. Barbara Ann was born December 27, 1965.

I enjoyed sewing and made many clothes for our family. I had many ward and stake callings in Lethbridge. I love to read, and we had scripture study every morning, led by Glenn, and personal reading every night. We moved to Prince Edward Island in August 1966 when we sent Peg off to BYU. We were the only family of The Church of Jesus

Christ of Latter-day Saints in Charlottetown. We went to Summerside to attend a small dependent Sunday School.

Around this time I lost the vision in one eye - later determined to be caused by multiple sclerosis. We moved to Harrow, Ontario in 1970 (Glenn in February and the rest of us in July). Gordon left to serve a mission in Japan. We moved to Penticton, British Columbia in April, 1975. Grant left to serve his mission in Peru. I was Relief Society

President twice in Penticton and Glenn was called to be the Stake Patriarch. I was his secretary for 25 years.

In May of 2023 I moved to Provo to live with my son Grant, his wife Tessa, and their family. It was fun to have many family members come to visit with me there. Many I hadn't seen for years. My sister Peggy, her daughter, nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I really enjoyed the time I had with all of them.