Joanne Russell

1932 — 2024

Joanne Bryant Russell, age 91, being of sound mind, but weary body, died on January 28, 2024. She was born January 31, 1932 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Thomas James Bryant and Mabel Midgley Bryant. She was the second of three children born into the family. She had an older sister Betty and a younger brother Stephen. She was raised and educated in Salt Lake and graduated from the University of Utah.

Joanne married Peter G. Russell in the Salt Lake Temple in 1953, and together they loved and raised seven children. They were married for sixty-four years. She often said that her most difficult yet rewarding job was to be a mother. She loved her children and her posterity.

Music was a life-long friend of hers. She sang in the public schools Honor Choir in the Salt Lake Tabernacle as a young child. She loved the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, and the Monkees. At the University of Utah, Joanne was a member of various honor societies and served as President of the Associated Women Students. She cherished her friendships and her dear partner in marriage Peter. She considered them to be a gift in her life.

Joanne was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She enjoyed her callings in the Church and learning about people’s lives. She served her friends with deep compassion and truly cared for them. She served many years in the PTA at Lomond View Elementary School. She loved sports of all kinds and participated in skiing, tennis, and softball. Joanne loved to garden and with the help of her husband Peter created many beautiful gardens at her home.

Joanne is survived by her seven children: Brian G. Russell (LeeAnn); Michael A. Russell (Doree); Stephanie R. Persson (Dion); Robin R. Saeva (Sam); Julie R. Nielsen (Ken); Thomas J. Russell (Michelle); and Paula R. Osborne (David); and her sister-in-law Julie C. Bryant. She had 28 grandchildren, and 28 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Peter G. Russell, her sister Betty B. Baker, and her brother Stephen T. Bryant.

The family thanks the medical teams for their care of Joanne, particularly in the last several years.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 3, 2024, viewings will be held Friday, February 2nd, 6 to 8 p.m. and on February 3rd, 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the Pleasant View Ward Church, 900 West on Pleasant View Drive, Pleasant View, Utah. The funeral will be livestreamed on the Myers Mortuary website www.myers-mortuary.com. She will be buried next to her sweetheart Peter in Ben Lomond Cemetery in North Ogden, Utah.