Kristi Ileene (Harmon) Branham

On Saturday, February 16, 2019, Kristi Ileene Harmon Branham, loving wife, mother and friend, passed away at the age of 69. Kristi was born March 31, 1949 to Kent and LaFaye (Steed) Harmon. Kristi served a volunteer mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in France and received a degree in Elementary Education from Brigham Young University. She married Kevin Rae Branham on August 27, 1974 and they are the parents of 6 daughters: Kiirsi, Kaari, Kaatia, Kimia, Kelsi, and Kirah and one son, Kavin.

Kristi was a shining light to everyone who was blessed to know her. She and Kevin made their home in the north woods of Wisconsin where she homeschooled her children and taught them to love music, sing, and play the piano. She loved to do puzzles, cross-stitch, write, teach, sew clothes for her children, and find the beauty in each day no matter the circumstances. She taught her children to love the Lord and to be compassionate and kind to people and animals everywhere, and she loved the gospel and her Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ. She was a lay midwife and delivered many babies in the Wisconsin north woods (along with many kittens and puppies). As an integral part of her church congregation in Wisconsin, the Rhinelander Branch/Ward, she held many volunteer positions including leadership, music, and as a teacher to children, youth, and adults.

Kristi had an open door policy: she always had open arms and room in her home for people that needed a family, a hug, shelter or food, or someone to have faith in them. She believed that everybody should be seen as a child of God and, therefore, as her brother or sister.

Kristi made her home in Utah the last few years and made many more beloved friends as some of her daughters were blessed to have her in their homes. Despite her physical pain and many trials, she was always cheerful and smiling and found so much joy in her children, grandchildren and extended family and friends. She loved family history/genealogy and spent hundreds of hours researching and indexing family names.

Kristi was preceded in death by her parents Kent and LaFaye, her brother Peter, and her precious daughter Kelsi. She is survived by her husband Kevin, her children Kiirsi (John) Hellewell, Kaari Gale, Kaatia (Michael) Larsen, Kimia (Olivier) Mulyangote, Kavin (Ashton) Branham, and Kirah Branham; her siblings Claudia (Marvin) Gale, David (Laura) Harmon, and Gary (Leah) Harmon; and 19 beloved grandchildren: Ciara, Bran, Nia, Ethan, Joshua, Benjamin, Owen, Levi, Zachary, Bria, Jordan, Jasmine, Jaeda, Jacob, Juliette, Lacey, Sophia, Marshall, and Lucas.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 2 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 5065 West Janette Ave (3890 South) West Valley City, Utah at 11:00 a.m. Flowers may be sent to 3921 Village Wood Drive, West Valley City, Utah 84120. Kristi’s family wishes to thank everyone for their loving words, prayers, and support.