Evelyn Dawn Backes Bruner

Our beloved mother, Evelyn Dawn Bruner, passed away August 25, 2025. She was born January 2, 1937, to Theresa Loree Backes and Ira Phillip Backes in Lakeview, Oregon. She spent her formative years in Grants Pass, Oregon. She enjoyed telling us stories of swimming in the Rogue River and making mischief in the neighborhood with a close group of friends that included her older sisters, Joan and Karen, and her little brother, Phil.

Evelyn met her sweetheart, Roderick Stanley Bruner, at a church dance. They became engaged and he soon left for service in the Airforce. They were married two years later, November 21,1955, in the Salt Lake Temple when he returned home. Evelyn and Rod loved ballroom, swing, and square dancing. They enjoyed writing and directing road shows and were very involved in the activities in their church ward in Grants Pass.

In 1957 their first baby was born, followed by seven more. We were a large, loud, boisterous family. We loved camping, swimming, picnicking, and going for long drives during which we sang camp songs to keep from bickering. Mom read to us from books like Mrs. Piggle Wiggle’s Magic, Fortunately/Unfortunately, and all the fairy tales. She recited poems she had learned in school and taught us nursery rhymes and silly ditties. We have fond memories of gathering on our parents’ bed while she told us stories and we talked and laughed so hard we were in tears. She had a great sense of humor, and in her later years she enjoyed telling jokes to her nurses and caregivers. Mom loved this beautiful world and all flowers, trees, and wild creatures in it. She was a gifted artist.

Mom cherished her membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and would wake in the wee hours of the morning to study scripture and religious books. She held many church callings and was especially happy while serving the youth. She was an extraordinarily dedicated visiting teacher. Mom and Dad felt privileged to serve a local mission while living in St. George, Utah. She was a second mom to several others who were invited to live in our home throughout the years. She is loved and missed by many.

We lived in Oregon, California, Washington, and finally settled in Utah in 1979. When our youngest sister started kindergarten, Mom began working to help support our large family. She enjoyed her jobs at St. Mark’s Hospital, OC Tanner, then caring for her grandchildren.

Our father passed away in 2020 from complications after a hip fracture. About a year later, Mom also broke her hip. We were fortunate to care for her in our homes with the help of capable nurses and caretakers to whom we are very grateful. She was alert and responsive until the very end and took her last breath surrounded by her loving family. She was 88 years old.

Mom is preceded in death by her husband, parents, siblings, and son-in-law, Larry Jensen. She is survived by her children, Cynthia Dawn Jensen, Sharla Deane Alford (Bret), Jeri Renee Foutz (Steve), Stanley Todd Bruner, Alisa Beth Kearl (Rod), Lyle Garth Bruner (Jennifer), Kelly Annette Tippetts (Tony), Tamera Roxanne LeFavor (Bob), 35 grandchildren, and 36 great-grandchildren with two on the way.

We’ll see you later Mom, we love you!

Morning visitation for Evelyn will be held Monday, September 1, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM at the Millcreek 4th Ward, 4220 S Jeannine Dr, Millcreek, UT 84107, followed by a memorial service at 11:00 AM.

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89226559569?pwd=8jbYXylIc0PaEep11abBK4ZVEaA2dX.1

Meeting ID: 892 2655 9569

Passcode: 067498