Nola C. Lybbert, our beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully at home on November 17, 2021. She was born on May 7, 1927, in Nukua’lofa, Tonga, where her parents Jay and Ada Cahoon were serving as missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was the second of four daughters and raised in Southern Alberta, Canada. Nola had a natural musical ability and, from the age of twelve, played with a family dance band for church and civic events. She graduated from the University of Alberta in Edmonton with a nursing degree.
Nola and Merlin Rex Lybbert married May 26, 1949, in the Cardston Alberta Temple. They immigrated to the United States and made their home in Salt Lake City. Nola served as a community nurse, in the PTA, as the pianist for a dance studio, in her church, and in her family.
Nola’s optimistic attitude infused everything in her life. She lived by the phrase “Have fun all day!” She had a firm testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and served at her husband’s side around the world. She often bore her testimony through music, transcending words.
Nola was preceded in death by her husband Merlin Rex Lybbert and son Perry Reed Lybbert. She is survived by her five children, Larilyn Dirkmaat, Ruth (Dale Renlund) Merla (Brian Berndt), Louise (Martin Nygaard), Clark (Stacy Poelman Lybbert), as well as fourteen grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and dear friends and neighbors.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, November 22, 2021, at 11:00 AM at the Valley View 10th Ward building, 1985 East 3900 South, Salt Lake City, Utah. Services may be viewed on Salt Lake Valley View Stake YouTube channel, 20th East Building. https://www.youtube.com/c/SaltLakeValleyViewStakeBroadcasts
Interment will follow at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 East Dimple Dell Road, Sandy, Utah. Family visitation will be on Sunday, November 21, from 6-8 p.m. at Larkin Sunset Lawn, 2350 East 1300 South, as well as for one hour before the funeral, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Valley View 10th Ward building.
To honor Nola’s charitable life, please donate to Latter-day Saint Charities in lieu of flowers. https://donate.churchofjesuschrist.org/donations/church/humanitarian-services/humanitarian-aid-fund?cde2=475-home&lang=eng or call 801-240-1000.
To: Merla, Brian and Family: I am so sorry to hear about Nola's passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you all and may peace be with you.
Marlene
Our condolences and thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. She must be having a grand reunion with Perry and Merlin. Nola was a wonderful women and I always enjoyed her and Merlins visits when they came to Glenwood Alberta. I am the grandson of Dan and Grace Lybbert.
Sincerly
David and Raquelle Shipley
We want to offer our love and support for the whole family at Nola’s passing. Through the years we have heard many stories about Nola from her daughter’s, son-in-law’s and grandchildren. She will be missed by all of them greatly. She sounded like a grand lady with great talents, and a big heart.
With much love,
Ted and Sheree Cook
Dear Family,
What a beautiful tribute to your mother! What a wonderful family you all are. Ken and I have so many fond memories of your mom and dad and each of you as you have grown and matured. I am so thankful to be a part of this great and stalwart Lybbert family. Our love to all of you.
Ken and Carrol Richardson
To the Lybbert Family, the Price family sends our love to you at this time of separation from your dear Mum. Our Mum, Beverley, counted serving in the Valley View 1st Ward Relief Society Presidency one of her choicest blessings. We pray your hearts will be filled with many loving memories of your Mum at this time and with the peace of the Gospel.
My condolences go to the family members of Nola. She was one of my special cousins. We were both born in November 1927. In Cardston we were neighbors & playmates until I left Cardston.
To Merla and Brian Brendt we wanted to sent to your family our deepest sympathy and condolences to you and your family for losing your dear mother Nola our prayers are always with you at this difficult time ofa lahi atu from Kesa and Kina Fangupo and our family.
Meus sentimentos que o senhor conforte o coração de toda a família e amigos e de seus familiares. Sei que verá novamente.
Dear Family,
What a beautiful tribute to your mother! What a wonderful family you all are. Ken and I have so many fond memories of your mom and dad and each of you as you have grown and matured. I am so thankful to be a part of this great and stalwart Lybbert family. Our love to all of you.
Ken and Carrol Richardson
I only knew her a short time, but her spirit will be with me much longer. It was an honor and my privilege to have cared for her.
My husband Darrell and I just finished watching the funeral service. What a beautiful and fitting service for you sweet mom. I loved your mom and dad - had to chuckle when Elder Packer commented something to the effect that your mom must surely have missed his humor. That is what I loved about your dad among many other things. Your mom and dad made such a great team. Because of the example of my own mom and dad and their love for family, I learned that as well. Nola was a great attribute to the Lybbert family . She was kind, caring and so inclusive. I remember one summer as a teenager I rode from Glenwood to Utah with them to visit with my sister living either in Bountiful or Provo at the time. We travelled to Banff - the first time I had ever been there- and then on to Moses Lake and then to SLC. I loved the trip and all the fun we had. I loved hearing the stories at the Lybbert reunions here in the mountains of their experiences of when they served in the area presidency and all their other experiences. My dad had such a love for family and because your dad and my dad were so close then automatically Nola had such a special place in my dads heart. My dad could not say enough good things about them. So pleased and happy to have been associated with Nola in so many pleasant and uplifting ways. When she was serving as temple matron in Cardston she was at some function in Glenwood. Someone had commented about how women sure didn't dress up for weekday Relief Society anymore and what a shame it was. Then they turned to Nola and said "is that how you feel sister Lybbert.? She answered that she didn't think the dress was as importance as the attendance. She was such an inspiration and so positive. She never had airs about her either. So grateful for my association with Nola. Sending love across the miles to all of you. I love the song "God be with you 'til we meet again." Love you all - Janet Lybbert Edwards
I love the feeling as I enter the home of the Redlund's and see Nola's Daughter who is very kind, lovely, and caring person. I felt that Nola has raise Ruth beautifully to keep spreading her kind love who is surrounding her or anyone. I love how Ruth has always take her mother to different appointments and care for her. I send my condolences to all of the Lybbert's family, children, grandchildren. Thank you for the love and all you do.
Love Jessica Macey Lynn