Ida Joyce Rodberg, quite possibly the world's greatest sister, cousin, aunt and friend, returned to heaven on August 12, 2017.
Ida was born to Arvid Andrew and Minerva Otelia Rodberg (née Jenson) in Salt Lake City on August 24,1933. As a social and athletic student at West High School, and later as a loyal employee of Southeast Furniture for 26 years, Ida had many friends and acquaintances dating back 60+ years, and upon randomly bumping into them decades later, could amazingly recall each of their names, backstories, who they were friends with and who their neighbors were. She had an unparalleled attention to detail when it came to her relationships with people, was brutally loyal to those she loved, and is an absolute one-of-a-kind soul who will be deeply missed by everyone she knew and loved.
Ida Joyce (or affectionately known as "Ida Joyce, the Peoples' Choice" or "Ida Lou", to a special few) had a flare for the humorous. She could tell you the corniest joke you'd ever heard, but because of her delivery and commitment to it, you couldn't help but laugh out loud, even if you'd heard it before. She could roast friends and family with the best of them, and had the quickest wit of any person the writer of these words has ever met.
Ida was an avid collector. Anything that could be labeled a "collector's item", she wanted. But unlike many collectors, almost all of what she picked up over the years was intended to be given away to family, just in case they might need it one day. She was passionately generous to her family. Her slogan was "If I don't have it, you don't need it!", and hearing her tell it to you was the only price you would ever pay for anything she had.
Ida is preceded in death by her sister Janet Drecksel and brother Richard "Dick" Kooyman. Ida is survived by her oldest sister Beverly "Betty" Ferguson, youngest sister Barbara Thora Kinsley, lifelong friend and companion Dennis "Denny" McGrath, and literally hundreds of nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, cousins and friends whose life can never be the same without her being here with us.
Viewing services will be held Tuesday, August 15th, 2017 at Larkin Mortuary on 260 E South Temple in Salt Lake City from 6 pm to 8pm. A graveside service will be held at Salt Lake City Cemetery on Wednesday, August 16th at 11am.
