Aunt Ruth

We found out about Aunt Ruth's passing and decided to make the trip to Ogden for the funeral. Kelly, my niece Wendy and I set out on a Friday afternoon being followed and sometimes passed by my brother David and his family. We arrived in Provo that night at my sister, Marilyn's house. Soon after my brother Paul and one of his son's arrived. We stayed up and looked through old family photo albums and talked. It was nice visiting.

Saturday morning we drove to Ogden for the funeral. My brother Larry was conducting the service and welcomed us all to the celebration of Aunt Ruth's life. When my cousin GraceAnn got up to talk she said," her mom would have liked that because, in life she was all about the party!" I have many memories of vacations with Aunt Ruth and Uncle Ray. Camping in Ogden Canyon, the basement house, and their family coming to Lompoc, trips the Hearst Castle and Disneyland, and the beach.

After the funeral we went to North Ogden Cemetery for the grave dedication. While there I had a family history lesson from my Aunt Darlene, on my the Furgeson family. Buried there are my grandparents and the five children that died early in life. It bothers me that there are no last names on their grave markers or birth and death dates. I hope that the family will always remember who these children are. We also got the visit with many of our cousins.

There was a family lunch afterwards, but because we took the scenic tour of Ogden (we were lost) there was not any food left when we arrived. So Rob, Wendy, Jessica, Kelly and I took off the find our favorite Utah restaurant Winger's. The food was great but the service was S-L-O-W.

The cousin's at lunch.

Everyone else had gathered at Grandma and Grandpa Rookhuyzen's. We joined them there and had a nice visit with everyone. Mom said to Kelly, "This place is really busy today!" I know that Larry was there but did not get a picture of him.

Paul with Mom

Cathryn and Lynette

Melissa and Alan

Rob and Erich

Mom, Nancy and Paul

David and Marilyn
David and Amy


Sunday we made it to a BYU singles ward (Kelly's request) and then spent about an hour with Melissa and family before starting home. It is sad that it takes a funeral to bring family together but, I am glad that we went.


Grandma, Kelly and Jaman
Asher and "Gandma"