Ruth Felt Howells died peacefully at home on August 24, 2015. She was born on August 29, 1919 to Spencer P. Felt and Ruth M. Howell Felt in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Ruth's many natural talents included design, organization, attention to detail, labeling, procrastination, poetry, drawing amazing floor-plans (that really got built), floral design, colors, landscaping design (that really got created), being prepared for any eventuality, talking, reading books of every hue, treasured friends, counseling everyone, love of dogs and horses, love of giving ‚ especially at Christmas, love of the arts, love of nature, love of traveling, love of America, love of the Savior, and her over-arching love of her family. These traits are seen in amazing variety among her progeny. (Any posterity with musical or math abilities got them from someone else.) Ruth gave her heart to "the one" in her church callings as ward MIA president, ward/stake Relief Society teacher, Stake Single Adult Leader, and Temple Ordinance Worker. She was ever a student of the gospel.
When she was 13 years old she met her future husband at her family cabin in Holiday Park. Paul S. Howells, age 15, had a ranch nearby and was hired to build a shed there.Eight years and many horse rides later, Paul and Ruth were married on October 10, 1940 in the Salt Lake City Temple.
Ruth wasan interesting study. Shewas smart and always extremely well-groomed with the best of hair, nails, and clothing, loved every modern convenience, enjoyed symphonies, art museums, and big band dancing. She was always a gracious hostess. She designed and remodeled her homes to be smarter and work better. Ruth fell in love with a rancher and she loved that less convenient life also. Paul and Ruth designed and built a cabin on the sheep ranch where they raised their family in the summers. There was no electricity or phone. She was an excellent cook on the coal-burning stove. She washed clothes on a scrub board and hung them on a line in the aspens to dry. She heated water on the coal stove to bathe their four children. She could drive trucks and cook for sheepherders. Ruth was an excellent equestrian ‚ riding horses into her 80thyear. As many friends can attest, she was a gracious hostess at the cabin as well. Paul and Ruth's marriage worked well because they could navigate both these worlds seamlessly together. Although widowed at age 41, she successfully accomplished her life's main goal ‚ holding her family together.By her providing a place to be united, her family has a strength that transcends normal family relations. Cousins are like siblings and as Grandma Ruth always says ‚ \"there are no in-laws, only family.\"
Ruth has been greeted in heaven by her husband Paul, her parents, sister Jane Alexander, daughter Stephanie Carlston, grandson Daniel Howells, and great-grandson Isaac Carlston. She is survived by her children David (Carole) Howells, Spencer (Ann) Howells, Amy (Karl) White, son-in-law Wayne (Shirley) Carlston, 22 grandchildren, 71 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchildren, and her brother Spencer P. Felt Jr. (Barbara).
Services will be held11:00 am,August 29, 2015(on her 96 birthday!) at Little Cottonwood 5thWard building (6350 South Rodeo Lane, SLC, Utah). Friends may callAugust 28, at the Larkin Sunset Lawn Mortuary from6:00-8:00 pm and at the churchAugust 29from9:30-10:30 am. Interment at the Salt Lake Cemetery.
