Louise Winegar Briggs

September 1, 2021, our beautiful mom, Louise (Lu) Briggs was reunited in heaven with our dad, Jim, her sweetheart of 66 years. She was 92 years young

Lu loved having visitors, sharing a meal, birds, flowers, the USA, black licorice, chocolate, ice cream, chocolate ice cream, traveling the world, pictures, pie, pie with ice cream, blueberries, blueberries with ice cream, plants of all kinds, babies, nature, learning new things, puzzles, gardening, cute bowls with ice cream, sunsets, turquoise jewelry, going on walks, going to church and lunch outings with friends.

The joys of her life were her husband, her children, her grandchildren, and her great-grandbabies (and ice cream)! Her circle of love was wide and included her extended family, her children’s friends, ward members, and employees that became members of the family. Lu had a special place in her heart for her nieces and nephews. She was a friend to all, and all were welcome. You could always count on a place to stay and a bowl of hot soup (a la mode) when you were passing through town. Her loved ones will miss her warm and ready smile, her encouraging words, her helping hands, and her open door.

Lu was an Idaho farm-girl through and through and could work circles around almost anyone. She did not believe in being idle - except to stop and eat a bowl of ice cream. : ) She was good at making work fun, and she and Jim taught their children the value of hard work. Together, they tried to instill in their family the values that would unite them eternally.

She was one of the earliest BSN graduates of the U of U’s School of Nursing, and she kept in touch with her nursing classmates whom she loved like sisters. She went on to receive her Master’s Degree in Nursing and worked at Utah Valley Hospital as Assistant Director of Nurses. One of her proudest professional accomplishments was working on the Heart and Lung Unit at LDS Hospital during the early years of heart surgery innovation. Her article, “Nursing Care of the Patient with a Prosthetic Heart Valve” was published in the American Journal of Nursing in 1963, and she presented her research at a national conference. While she could have achieved notoriety in the medical world, her dream was to have a family, and she chose to excel as a wife and mother.

She was a faithful and devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many capacities over her lifetime. She was humble and kind and lived the words of one of her favorite Primary songs, “I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus.” Her life was a sermon of love and faith in Jesus Christ

Lu enjoyed a long, productive and happy life with her husband, Jim, her 4 children and their families. She traveled the world and especially enjoyed trips with Jim to Australia, Germany, the Baltic, Church History Sites, and she took a special trip to Egypt and Jerusalem with her sister, Leone.

Lu was quick-witted and loved a good laugh but couldn’t tell a joke to save her life. She was optimistic, positive and undaunted in facing life’s experiences. She brought light and goodness wherever she went, and all who knew her were blessed to have been loved by her.

She is survived by three beloved siblings and their phenomenal spouses, Leone Duerden, Dee Winegar (Torma) and Rex Winegar (Susan), her favorite children, Justine (Dave) Locko, JoAnn (Ron) Hager, Camille (Brett) Lyman, Tom (Sheila) Briggs, 17 practically perfect grandchildren and almost 15 of the cutest great-grandchildren in the whole wide world. She is preceded in death by her heavenly sweetheart, Jim, her talented grandson, Blake Locko, her wonderful parents, her loving brother, Wesley, and her vivacious sister, Maxine

A viewing will be held Friday, September 10, 2021, at 11:00 am with the funeral following at 1:00 pm at the St. George Utah North Stake Center at 1784 W. Diamond Valley Dr., St. George, Utah. Happy 66th Anniversary, Mom and Dad! We’ll be here loving you (and eating ice cream) until we meet again!

The funeral can also be viewed live at the following zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/95139422547?pwd=T0ZoaEpmdm9nbzM4QWJhUW1RMCtSZz09

The funeral can also be viewed by this link as well: https://youtu.be/tGap5Xnfihc