Ruth Stella Sidwell Duke passed away on August 26th. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to many, and was deeply loved by her family. Ruth was a selfless and faithful woman, and she will be deeply missed. She loved her Savior Jesus Christ, and was dedicated to her calling as a mother and friend. She had a heart of charity and selflessness to all she met.

Ruth was born in Salt Lake City to Leonard and Stella Bates Sidwell. Her family moved frequently during World War II, due to her father's service as an officer in the Army Air Force. Their family lived in Salt Lake City, Denver, Sioux City, and Colorado Springs during the war. She had many happy memories of ice skating and having ice cream sundaes with her parents in the Colorado Springs Officers Club.

The end of the war was pivotal for Ruth's family. With the celebration of peace also came the realization of her mother's illness. The family soon moved to Richfield, Utah, where her mother had an operation for cancer, then to Salt Lake City, for hospitalization. While her father stayed in Salt Lake City, Ruth and her younger brother, Richard, stayed with Grandpa and Grandma Bates in Richfield for a time and then returned to Salt Lake City. Stella passed away shortly before Ruth's 12th birthday, which was a great tragedy in Ruth's life.

Ruth described her teenage years as "unhappy years" after her mother died, but she also found many areas of joy and gained many close friends. She attended Irving Junior High in Salt Lake City.

Ruth's father, Leonard, married Maurine Bullock on August 30th, 1947, and Ruth gained three step-sisters, Betty, Karen and Alberta. Ruth attended South High School in Salt Lake City, where she gained a desire to teach, and began to attend Sunday School as well, which was a great comfort to her.

Ruth attended the University of Utah starting in September, 1952. Here, she met her sweetheart of more than 63 years, James Taylor Duke, at the Institute of Religion. They were married by (then Elder) Spencer W. Kimball in the Salt Lake Temple on August 22, 1958. They are the parents of nine children and many precious grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who they loved dearly.

During the summer of 1953, Ruth went to participate in the Hill Cumorah Pageant. There, and in the Sacred Grove, she gained a testimony of her Savior Jesus Christ, and of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. She often described this as a pivotal moment in her life.

Ruth began teaching elementary school in 1956 at Canyon Rim Elementary School. After their marriage, Jim and Ruth moved to Los Angeles, where Jim went to graduate school at UCLA while Ruth taught elementary school at Culver Elementary School.

In 1961, they moved to Kingston, Jamaica, along with their first son, Jimmy. They soon moved to Pocatello, Idaho, then in 1963 moved to Orem, Utah, as Jim began teaching at Brigham Young University. They lived in Orem in the Orem 31st/Sharon 3rd Ward, for the rest of their lives.

Ruth embraced and loved her role as a mother. She loved teaching her children to read, pray, play the piano, sing and serve each other. Their home was filled with music of all kinds, but especially musicals, big band jazz, and hymns. It was also filled with words of praise and kindness, and acts of service. She taught her children to serve others, work hard, be honest and kind to others, and love the Savior.

Ruth was a devoted disciple of Christ and an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from her teenage years. She served others through many church callings, including Relief Society president. Her favorite callings were teaching Primary and serving as a temple worker with Jim in the Provo and Mt. Timpanogos Temples in their later years.

The things that Ruth loved the most in life were her Savior, Jesus Christ, and her family. She is survived by her children Jim (Kay), Shari (David McLean), David (Charis), Steven (Kristin), Richard, Kathy (Robert Taylor), Angela (Ken Kaufman), Jeff (Ariana), Lisa (Spencer Reese), and their wonderful posterity. She is also survived by her brother, Richard Sidwell.

She is preceded in death by her husband Jim, her parents Leonard and Stella Bates Sidwell, brother Bob (Blanche), sister Irene, step-mother Maurine Bullock Sidwell, step-sisters Betty (Ralph) Henderson, Catherine Alberta Joseph, and Karen (Leland) Gygi, and her great-grandson Peter McLean.

Her funeral will be held at the Sharon 2nd Ward building on 641 S 400 E, Orem, UT 84097 on Friday, August 30th at 11:00 am. Ruth's family would like to request in lieu of flowers to please make a donation to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Those who wish to visit with the family may do so from 10:00 am to 10:45 am that morning at the same location. She will be buried in Wasatch Lawn Cemetery at 3401 S Highland Dr, Millcreek, UT 84106.

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