Ruth Virginia Jergins was born in Corinne, Utah, on July 5, 1926, to Asher and Lois Hopewell.
She had an older sister and a younger brother. The family moved to California for a time, then back to Ogden, Utah, where she went to high school. She met Clifford Jergins there and they were married on June 17, 1946, in Tremonton, Utah.
They lived in St. George, Utah, for a while then moved to the Verde Valley in Arizona to work on a ranch with family. They had two children: a son, Larry, and a daughter, SheraLee. They moved to Cornville and lived there until Clifford’s death in 1967.
At this time, Ruth went to work as a bookkeeper for various companies in Cottonwood and Clarkdale, Arizona. She loved her work and did not retire until in her late 70s. She was very independent and took care of herself until her 80s when her eyesight got bad; she then moved to Snowflake, Arizona, to be near her son and his family, and later she moved to Moab, where her daughter and family lived.
As she was independent, she moved into the Rockridge Apartments and lived there until November 2016; as her health deteriorated, she went to the Canyonlands Care Center, where she had a lot of friends and was loved by many. She passed away peacefully in her sleep on April 23 at the care center.
She was preceded in death by both parents, her husband and infant daughter (Virginia).
She is survived by her son Larry R. (Nanette) Jergins of Phoenix, Arizona; her daughter SheraLee (Mitchell) Patrick of Moab; her brother Jimmie Hopewell of Lancaster, California; five grandchildren: Tonya Wilson of Shell Knob, Missouri; Donald Hepburn (Angelique) of Phoenix; Amberlyn Gentry (Ed ) of Snowflake; Jeremiah Jergins of Phoenix; and Ashley ( Priscilla) Jergins of Cookville, Tennessee; and at least 14 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews.
At Ruth’s request, cremation has taken place and no public services are planned. The family will have a private service at a later date.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.SpanishValleyMortuary.com.
