Lorraine Elizabeth Hart Sothern

Lorraine Elizabeth Hart Sothern passed away unexpectedly on June 1, 2022 from a ruptured brain aneurysm in Layton, Utah.  She was 90 years old.

Lorraine was born August 8, 1931 in Newark, New Jersey to Robert Emmett Hart and Loretta Elizabeth McTeigue.  Lorraine had older brother Robert, (Bobby) and a younger brother John. Lorraine was raised Catholic and went to parochial schools as a child.  Lorraine’s mother passed away in childbirth when Lorraine was 12 years old.  The baby, John, survived but her mother did not.  Lorraine missed her mother and her older brother terribly when Bobby enlisted in the Navy during World War II.  As a 12 year old she tried to keep house, go to school, and cook for her father and care for her little brother.  Her father remarried a few years later to Jean Hansford, Jean was a wonderfully kind woman who helped Lorraine tremendously through her later teenage years. Lorraine met her high school sweetheart, Bob Ameling, in Math class at Belleville High School, Belleville, New Jersey.

Bob and Lorraine were married a few years later while Bob attended Lehi University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.  Upon graduation Bob was commissioned an officer in the US Air Force.  He was a navigator and involved in many Cold War activities as part of the Strategic Air Command. Lorraine was resilient as an Air Force wife and mother as she was asked to move many times during their Air Force days.  Her favorite assignment was when the family lived in Greece.  It was here that Lorraine and the kids were baptized in the Mediterranean Sea into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  When Bob and Lorraine left the Air Force they settled in Seal Beach, California.  Here they raised their teenagers, Glenn, Keith and Karen.  After several happy years passed, Bob was diagnosed with Cancer and passed away.  Lorraine was devasted.  A good friend, Bob Sothern, who had also lost a spouse to cancer asked her to marry him.  For 31 years they traveled the world and enjoyed their life together in Prescott, Arizona.  Bob even took flying lessons and bought his own plane.  They were the jet setters.  Several years ago Bob was diagnosed with dementia and when they could no longer take care of themselves Lorraine’s daughter, Karen, moved them to Kaysville to the Whisper Cove Assisted Living Center. Bob passed away in August of 2021.

Lorraine spent many years serving in the Relief Society and Primary organizations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Lorraine taught preschool and was the director of a Preschool and Day Care Center in Belmont Shores, California.

Lorraine is survived by her 3 children: Glenn Ameling, (Karla), Keith Ameling, Karen Willardson, (Russell); 10 Grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren. The family wishes to express deep gratitude for the wonderful and caring staff at Whisper Cove Assisted Living Center for their tireless efforts in making the residents of Whisper Cove feel loved and cared for.  We are happy that Lorraine is finally reunited with her loved ones after being separated for many years.

Funeral services will be held Saturday at 11:00 am at Russon Brothers Mortuary, Farmington 1941 N Main St., Farmington, Utah 84025. Viewing prior to services 9:45 am – 10:45 am.

For those wishing to attend virtually, the service will be streamed live at 11:00 AM on Russon Mortuary and Crematory Facebook Page using the following link: https://www.facebook.com/watch/russonmortuary/

Services will also be streamed under this obituary beginning at 11:00 AM on Saturday.