Helen Gardner

Helen Richards Gardner passed away peacefully on May 6, 2009 in Bountiful, Utah, of natural causes. She was born on August 8, 1914 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Heber Greene and Nora Noall Richards. She was the last survivor of five children. She attended the L. D. S. High School and graduated from the University of Utah with a B.A. degree in 1936. She then attended the University of California in Berkeley and received a Certificate of Librarianship. She was employed for three years at the U. of U. with a special assignment at the Stewart Training School. While in Berkeley she met Eldon J. Gardner, who was working on an advanced degree in Zoology. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on August 21, 1939. They lived in Salinas, California for seven years, then in Salt Lake City for three years and then they went to Logan in 1949 when Eldon welcomed and accepted a faculty position at Utah State University. They lived there for forty years until Eldon passed away in 1989. Helen then moved to Bountiful and spent her last 20 years there. Helen was a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She did much in genealogical research and, while in Logan, she served in the Cache General Library as a consultant from 1966 – 1989. She served in the Primary organization and as the Primary president. She was especially good with young children and was a very well-organized mother and supportive wife. She is survived by her children, Patricia Jerome Mahrt, Donald Kathy Gardner, Betty George Morrison, Cynthia Steve Pulley, Alice Gene Giles, and Mary Jane Joe Neville; 26 grandchildren; and 62 great grand-children. Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Eldon, her parents, Heber and Nora Richards, and her sisters, Afton Asper, Vera Nielsen, Pat Brunson, and DeEtte Berg. Also by one grandson. Her family wishes to thank the staff of Heritage Place in Bountiful, Vista Care hospice nurses, and the Heritage L.D.S. Branch for their care and devotion to Helen during her last years. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 9, at 11:00 at the Russon Brothers Mortuary, 295 North Main, Bountiful. Viewings will be held there also on Friday, May 8, from 6 to 8 pm and Saturday from 9:45 to 10:45 am. Interment will be in the Logan Cemetery, Logan, Utah. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Perpetual Education Fund of the L.D.S. Church.