Melba Ranae Gardner Rogerson

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Our mom, grandma, sister, and friend, Melba RaNae Gardner Rogerson passed away peacefully in her sleep on December 25, 2022 at the age of 89.  She was born on October 10, 1933, in Auburn, WY, the second of Lloyd and Melba Jensen Gardner’s three children.  In 1938, her mother died giving birth to her younger brother Arden J., who also died.  Her father later married Alba Bodily, and over the next 16 years, RaNae became the big sister to another seven brothers and sisters whom she loved and adored.
Her father was a dairyman, and most of RaNae’s early life was spent in small towns in various parts of Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming.  In her early teenage years, her parents settled in Midvale, UT, where she graduated from Jordan High School in 1951.  If there was anything RaNae learned from a young age it was how to work.  Maybe it was from being the oldest sister in a house full of younger siblings or maybe it was her Scottish heritage, but she never coasted, never cut corners, worked until the work was done, and never took the easy way out of anything.
While in college, she met and fell in love with Lynn J. Rogerson.  They were married on July 27, 1955 in the Manti, Utah temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  They had been married for 54 years when Lynn died in May of 2009.  Without a doubt, her pride and joy were her three sons:  Tony (Rayna) of Sandy, UT, Michel (Robin) of West Valley City, UT, and Chris (Deidra) of West Covina, CA.  Adding to her pride and joy were 12 grandchildren, 18.5 great-grandchildren, several step-grandchildren, and many, many of her sons’ friends who always referred to her as “mom.”
RaNae graduated from BYU in 1955 with a bachelor’s degree.  In 1961, she began working at Family Counseling Center as an accountant.  By the time she retired 38 years later in 1999, she was the co-executive director of the agency, and was responsible for all aspects of the business-side of the organization.  She was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and she served in many callings, but perhaps her most important was that of cub scout den mother for all three of her sons.
In addition to her posterity, RaNae is survived by her siblings Jerry Gardner, Marie Leggett, Linda Millington, Royce Gardner, and Karalee Stephensen.  She was preceded in death by her husband Lynn, her parents, her older brother Duane, and her younger brothers Arden J., Rick, and Randy Gardner.
Internment will be at Memorial Mortuaries & Cemeteries, 3115 E 7800 S, Cottonwood Heights, UT.
Service Information
Viewing January 6, 2023 at 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Church of Jesus Christ 1250 East 4800 South





Viewing January 7, 2023 at 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM
Church of Jesus Christ 1250 East 4800 South





Funeral Service
January 7, 2023 at 12:00 PM
Church of Jesus Christ 1250 East 4800 South