Beth Ellsworth

Loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, sister and friend, Beth Christensen Ellsworth died Tuesday, August 31, 2010 in Flagstaff, Arizona. She was 90 years old. Beth was born on June 19, 1920 in Central, Graham County, Arizona to the late Victor and Sara Jane (Butler) Christensen. As a young woman, Beth served in the Northern States Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After completing her mission for The Church, Beth married the love of her life, Paul E. Ellsworth. They most recently celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary together. She graduated from A.S.U. and subsequently, taught school, from a one-room school house all the way up. Following her retirement, she and Paul served a mission together for The Church in the Holbrook area; spending most of their time on the Navajo Nation. She and her husband were a very family-oriented couple. They loved raising their children and spending as much time as possible with them and their grandchildren. They always appreciated visits from each of them. Then, when the great-grandchildren started to arrive, their love was expanded, and grew sweeter with the birth of each one. She was ever the loving homemaker to her wonderful family and each, and every one of her family, appreciated the countless hours she spent in their service. Beth took great pride in her cooking. She was capable of cooking and baking just about anything. Beth also learned the importance of having a "green thumb" as she was an excellent gardener. She canned much of the food that she grew. Much of her family and many friends have been blessed by her canning skills and she was always willing to help fill their pantries with her canned goods. Beth has always been a people person and, even in her later years, she maintained a close relationship with many of her students as they all loved and respected her so much. Beth Christensen Ellsworth is survived by: her husband, Paul Ellsworth; children: Beth Ann (David) Gardner, Julia Jane "Jill" Ellsworth, Paula Mary Ellsworth, Joseph Gerald "Jerry" (Judy) Johnson; siblings: Geri Harrison, Betty Jo (Neldon) Cook, Lot Butler (Colleen) Christensen, Rose Lenore Shumway, Carol Shupe, Jane Theobald, Gary Christensen, Joy Jones, James Edward (Susan) Christensen; 10 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great-grandchildren and countless others who called her "Grandma." In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by: a brother, Victor Phil Christensen; sisters: Colleen and Corine and a great-granddaughter, Jessica Ladawn Young. The funeral service will be 11:00 A.M., Monday, September 6, 2010 at the Woodruff Ward Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Woodruff, Arizona where the visitation will begin 1 hour prior. The concluding service and interment will be 11:00 A.M., Tuesday, September 7, 2010 at the Safford Cemetery in Safford, Arizona. Memorial contributions to the Perpetual Education Fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been suggested by her family.