Penny Joyce Clark

Penny was born on July 28, 1941, in Salt Lake City, to Wallace and Ada Baker Christofferson. The family soon moved to Ogden, where her father became an engineer on the railroad and her mother taught high school English. Penny brought with her a personality which radiated a deep love for Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, her family and friends. She desired a patriarchal blessing at age 10. It would become ''a lamp unto your feet and lend encouragement to you in holding fast to the truth...You and your husband shall rejoice in your posterity through time and eternity...The Holy Ghost through your prayerfulness and study, shall reveal unto you the divine nature of the mission of Joseph Smith, and you shall know of the personality of the Father and the Son...You shall know beyond a shadow of doubt, that these things are true... You will become a noble mother and a wonderful wife and help to enrich the lives of others, for you shall be a teacher of righteousness and a missionary of truth." In her life, Penny was a friend to all. She loved people and they looked to her for guidance and strength. She came from a family of pioneers. Her grandfather, Peter Julius Christofferson, was born in Denmark in 1843, a year before the prophet Joseph Smith was born and was a pioneer of 1852.

At age 15, she met Richard Clark, age 17, at a stake dance in Ogden. Richard was not looking for a girlfriend but was swept off his feet by the amazing spirit Penny radiated and by those beautiful brown eyes. They soon discovered that their mothers had served a mission in the Eastern States together. At age 16, she and her niece Marilyn trained and became crew members of the Socotwa Colorado River Expedition. After two years of college, she served an excellent mission in Southern California. Upon her return, on April 1, 1963, she arrived at BYU and on that day met Richard in front of the Jesse Knight Building. The flames of love rekindled in a heartbeat, and they were married on July 10, 1963.

Richard became an Indian Seminary teacher in Durango in 1964. With little babies in her arms, she taught the high school Navajo girls, while Richard taught the boys. Timothy, Jonathan and Christie joined the family. In 1967 they were assigned to the CSUN Institute in L.A. Elizabeth joined them in 1970 and Joel in 1974 while at the Stanford Institute.

Salt Lake City became the next Clark family home for many years. Penny was their heartbeat. She loved to learn. She would say, ''We are on this earth to define ourselves." The scriptures and Church doctrine were her favorites, supported by history and the classics. Her motto was: ''If there is anything lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things." She traveled to England and Scotland to record and do temple work for about 2000 family names. She was an awesome mom for teenagers. She was one of them and loved her children's friends. In addition to being their best fan at football, wrestling, and music activities, she joined her children on fishing, backpacking and horse trips into the Wind Rivers and Southern Utah mountains.

Penny was a pioneer in the natural food industry. She concocted all kinds of strange dishes and ''green drinks'' for her family. When Joel was 8, she sent him around the neighborhood pulling his red wagon full of her dad's whole grain pancake mixes for a dollar a bag. This was the beginning of what came to be known as Kodiak Cakes.

In 2000, Richard and Penny were called to preside over the Berlin Mission. Penny loved her missionaries. Sister Myers wrote her these words: ''Dear Sister Clark: I just want to tell you how happy I am that you are here in Berlin with us! You are a wonderful example to me. I love that you also served a mission in California. I admire your diligence in being such a scholar... You are a happy, good-natured, hard-working loving woman-and you are just what Berlin needs.

Alzheimer's has taken this sweet lady home to her Heavenly Father, the Savior Jesus Christ and to a happy reunion with her family and friends. She leaves behind her husband, children and many grand and great-grandchildren whom she dearly loves.