Rita Johnson Simmons

Rita Johnson Simmons passed away peacefully at Lakeview Hospital on Friday, October 31, 2025, surrounded by all three of her children and several other family members.

She was born, the youngest of 11 children, to Leith Ingram and Myrtle Theresa Jensen Johnson, in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, on July 27, 1936. She was predeceased by 9 of her 10 siblings.

Rita graduated from Taber High School, in Alberta, where she was active in athletics, including holding the provincial record in high jump. She also played in the Alberta basketball championship and was unbeaten in the 100-yard dash.

She graduated from BYU in Provo in the field of Education. She was a lifelong educator, teaching in West Covina, California, Kailua, Hawaii, and Kearns, West Jordan, Provo, Farmington, and Bountiful, Utah.

While teaching in Hawaii, she met banker Almo Beals Simmons, whom she married in the Salt Lake Temple on October 6, 1960. Almo passed away on June 26, 2020, in St. George, Utah.

Rita was the proud mother of 3, Robert of St. George, Utah, David (Logan) of Niceville, Florida, and Mary Ann (Jeremy) of Kaysville, Utah. She leaves eight adored grandchildren, McKay, Taylor, Kailey, Bethany and Kylan Simmons, Danielle Andersen, Jacob and Tyler West, and 9 precious great-grandchildren.

Rita was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the offspring of valiant pioneers. She loved having a variety of callings in Sunday School, Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary at both ward and stake levels. Her last years were spent happily serving as an ordinance worker in the Bountiful and St. George Temples.

Rita will be remembered for her overflowing love and concern for others. She saw deeply into people and unconditionally loved them wherever they were on their own unique journeys. She enjoyed doing many quiet acts of service and sacrificing herself to make others’ lives better. She was filled with love, empathy, and inclusion.

Rita loved learning. Some of her favorite things were to curl up with a good book, and her weekly Thursday night scripture-study class on Zoom. She also enjoyed working in her garden, and her pups, Jax and Pixie.

She had an incredible memory right to the end, delighting to learn people’s history and make family connections. She was truly the Johnson and Simmons family historian.

A viewing will be held at Russon Mortuary on 1941 N. Main Street, Farmington, UT on Thursday, November 6th from 6:00-8:00 pm.

A memorial service will be on Friday, November 7th at the Kaysville 10th Ward, at 1039 E. Crestwood Road, Kaysville, Utah. This will include a short viewing from 9:45-10:45am, with the service at 11:00am. Her burial will be in the Bountiful Cemetery.

The ward will be live streaming the services using the following link: https://zoom.us/j/95383837920

Rita’s family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Lakeview Hospital, who took excellent care of her, and for the outpouring of love and support from family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to your ward missionary fund (she always wanted to serve a mission) or your favorite charity.