Ann Elizabeth Henderson, 66, was reunited with her parents on March 9, 2021, in Salt Lake City, Utah. We are sure it was a joyous reunion. Ann was born on August 15, 1954 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Melvin Bentson Henderson and Helen Richards Henderson. She was the light of their lives, and their only child. She attended West High School where she participated in publications, competitive sports, and was known for her academic achievement. Ann was a soft-spoken, cultured person who always had a smile for everyone.
After completing her education at BYU in Family Living, Ann moved to Norwood, Colorado where she taught high school home economics for six years. With an opportunity to become the Family Consumer Science (FCS) Agent for USU Extension in Box Elder County, Ann decided it was time to make a move and soon made her home in Brigham City. During her service as extension agent, Ann obtained her master’s degree in Family and Human Development from Utah State University. She retired in September 2020 as an Associate Professor in Extension after 11 years. As an Extension Agent for 37 years, she influenced the lives of thousands of Box Elder County youth who participated in various 4-H FCS related projects. She also loved to teach adults and facilitated many classes on different FCS subjects throughout the county.
Ann lived to serve and loved education. Her proudest accomplishments were helping to develop the Community Pro Youth Organization (CPYO) in Brigham City. This work addressed youth needs in the community, and led to the creation of the Lincoln Center, a community center targeted towards helping youth and non-profit organizations. Ann was dedicated to her mother, Helen, whom she brought to live with her in Brigham City after Helen’s retirement from the University of Utah. Together they built a lovely home in which they resided together until Helen’s passing in 2002.
Ann received numerous recognitions: Young Women’s Christian Association Women in Action Award, Utah Home Economics Association Outstanding Home Economist in Extension, USU College of Family Life Extension Agent of the Year, along with many other awards. She was a past president of the Box Elder Rotary Club International, served on the Inter-Agency Council and Box Elder County Fair Board. She also volunteered as an usher at the Heritage Theater in Perry. Ann was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Ann is preceded in death by her parents. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, March 16, at 11:00 a.m. at the Brigham City First Ward Chapel at 236 East 100 South. There will be no viewing. Interment will be in the Salt Lake City Cemetery, 200 N St E, Salt Lake City, Utah, with graveside services. In lieu of flowers we encourage you to serve someone in need or donate to your favorite youth community organization in her memory.
The recording of the service can be found here: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/IyplMg-_1nFEapE9WYpnJUTPwiWroBIUVLsSjCYQuxEYzXTgDT_z-R42hzCWyHPA.EUY314MetYn3SeWr
Ann was someone who really impacted my life, yet probably had no idea she did so. Ten years ago when my five kids were all very young, and I had no extended family living nearby, I was struggling. Struggling with my five kids ages seven and under, including very rambunctious twin toddler boys and a constantly ill baby. I was worn thin and feeling like no matter what I did, it just wasn't enough and I never had a break from it all. Then one day I saw USU advertising upcoming free community classes in the paper...my heart flew...I could do this...one night a month, for only an hour or so. And I did. I met Ann and felt relief at the sight of her soft smile and knowledgeable words. I enjoyed laughing along with the others
as we listened to the instructors funny trial and fail stories, the bond of their friendship obvious. I signed up for every class I could attend for the next ten years plus after that. I learned how to bottle fruit, veggies, salsa and chili. How to freeze foods, enjoy casseroles, and make jam. I learned about bread making, pastas, rice and beans and what quinoa is and how to pronounce it. I learned all about the different varieties of fruits and veggies and collected new delicious recipes. I learned I loved the different types of pears...and had new recipies to make the right dessert for each. I felt free to ask question after question, and happily collected each and every handout. I was so nervous using a pressure canner the first time...I went to Ann's office. She tested my pressure gauge, calmly and oh so encouragingly walked me through how to bottle chicken step by step, and gave me lots of info handouts. I was so excited to report back it all went well. I felt a new connection to a grandmother I lost as a child, as I bottled jar after jar with the same pressure canner she had used to help feed her family too. I knew in my heart Ann wasn't the only one proud of me. My kids have grown a lot, those twin boys are now nearly teenagers. And as my little family pushes on through this pandemic we've done so with different varieties of freezer jam to make pb & j's for lunches. We enjoy enchiladas and tetrazzini with bottled chicken. We rotate who chooses a jar of fruit off the pantry shelves every dinnertime...cherries, applesauce, apricots, peaches or pears.
My kids have grown up watching me go to Ann's classes, then excitedly come home to tell my husband and them all about it. They can hardly wait as I put into practice what I learned. It's become something Mom just does now, something they'll always remember...how Mom was always happily making jams, breads, desserts, freezer meals, and bottling different delights. Serving them up with a smile of accomplishment and contentment. I'm teaching them now too. It makes my heart so happy. And I'll just forever be thankful to Ann for giving me that. It truely has been such an invaluable gift to have opened the paper those many years ago, and read about a USU instructor holding a jam making class at the library...and a tired tear turned into a smile. Thank you Ann...love you.
To the Family of our sweet Ann,
Thank you for sharing such a wonderful person with us.
I enjoyed seeing and visiting Ann, it was always a delight.
Many blessings your way as your family struggles with Ann's presents be gone. If I know this sweet person at all she will we with you in spirit to care for your all. She loved her family very much. My favorite memory of your loved one is at conference when we would cook as a group she was the peaceful quite one. I loved that about her. We would talk about the projects she would of been working on that last year. The love and support we get from friends is invaluable even if just a once a year. She left a lasting impression with me.
Laurie USU Extension
Dear Ann,
You had such a quiet, gentle way about you. Please know that your thoughtful ways will be missed.
Sincerely,
Heather Crockett
United Way of Northern Utah
To Ann's family/4-H/Extension family,
Ann will be greatly missed. She provided a light in our community that showed people the way to kindness, wholesomeness, hard work and dedication. There is no doubt she influenced many lives, served as a remarkable example and inspired people to do/be more. I was so saddened to see of her sudden passing, especially so soon after retiring. She will be greatly missed!
Allena Pierce
I love Ann. Through 4-H and USU my interactions with her have been a blessing and a joy. She didn’t hesitate if she could help - going out of her way was part of her nature. She will be so missed. She touched so many lives.
Ann, you were a bright light in the world and my heart is sad that you passed from us so quickly! Thank you for your service to our family especially our kids! We learned so much from you over the years. May God bring comfort to your family and all your friends who are also grieving your passing. Thank you! The Sorensen family.
Ann will be missed. She was such a kind, caring person who went about life serving others. She touched my life greatly as I worked with her over the years in Extension. What an inspiration and beautiful person, truly an example to all who knew her.
Such a sweet, kind lady. I greatly admire her for all of the service and dedication she gave to our community and the 4H program. I loved all of the cooking, canning and mother/daughter sewing classes she put together.
Ann was a blessing in my life. Our paths crossed back and forth for almost 40 years with the various organizations and projects in which we were both involved. When I think if Ann, I think of her genuine love for her community and her belief in people. She made an indelible, positive difference in so many lives; we are all better people because she shared her spirit with us. With love to you all. Annette
Though my family only lived in Brigham City for the past 3 and a half years, Ann impacted my family in many ways she will never know. I became acquainted with Ann's quiet, humble and unassuming service when I joined the Brigham City Rotary Club. She served for many years as the Secretary of the Board for the Club. I later found she gave hundreds of hours of service on behalf of the Club in many ways, including recording the history of the Club each year with her thorough annual reports. Ann went out of her way to pick up some small donations my family made just after I joined and I was impressed by her kindness. She was very giving to causes all over the world through contributions to the International Rotary Foundation.
Ann's involvement in 4H has impacted the lives of my daughter, who started raising lambs. Ann helped with the improvements of Rotary Park, where my son spends hours of fun learning new tricks on his scooter. Her talented volunteer work at the Box Elder County Fair, included lovingly and painstakingly displaying my family's homemade craft entries. I was impacted by Ann many years before I knew her through my mom's canning of peaches, pears and other foods. She learned from her mom and from the USU extension office classes and handouts which Ann was involved. I have carried that into my own family life. She was a quiet, kind giant in the community and will be greatly missed.
University of Utah College of Social Work faculty and staff will miss our friend Ann. Ann's warmth and compassion were evident to all her met her. She regularly attended our annual scholarship events to meet and celebrate the student recipients of the two awards she supported in her mother's and grandmother's honor. We feel lucky to have known Ann, and we are grateful to her for the many social workers who have been - and will continue to be - encouraged through her scholarships.
I did not know Ann had passed until May. I grew up with her and had many fond memories of family outings and holidays. She was a sweet cousin. With love, Betty Cunningham