Margaret Lillian Swenson Woodbury

On Thursday, December 6, 2018, our cherished mother and grandmother, Margaret Lillian Swenson Woodbury left us and returned home to greet her Heavenly Father, Savior and waiting family.

Margaret Lillian Swenson Woodbury truly was an elect lady who fulfilled the measure of her creation. Despite being an accomplished artist, actress and writer, her greatest role was wife, mother and grandmother. Margaret (or Muggins) was born in Logan, Utah on May 17, 1928 in a big brass bed in the basement of the house her father Dan Arthur built for her mother Margret (Greta) Hellberg Swenson. Dan and Greta were Swedish immigrants and parents to 10 children: May, Roy, Dan, George, Grace, Ruth, Beth, Margaret, Loyd, and Paul. Swedish was the first language spoken in their home, with English second. She enjoyed her role as youngest daughter.

Margaret knew that she was always loved. Her childhood years were filled with happiness, but also work. She spoke of scrubbing the floor on her knees and picking fruit or vegetables from the garden. She also learned to have fun, describing in detail their Christmas Smorgasbord and continuing the tradition with her own children. She wrote of the love between her parents and siblings and later, marveled that she found such a love herself.

In May 1946 she graduated high school in Logan, Utah. Margaret then spent the summer with her sister May in New York, attending a course at the Traphagen School of Art and Design. This experience deepened her love for the arts and she began attending USU (then known as Utah State Agricultural College) majoring in art and minoring in drama. By 1949, she was starting her junior year and was offered the lead in "He Who Gets Slapped", by Leonid Andryev. At tryouts she saw a young man she'd never met before named Lael Woodbury. Lael was offered a role in which they came on stage holding hands. They never stopped and at the end of the run of the play, Lael and Margaret were engaged. She designed her own wedding gown. They were sealed for time and all eternity in the Logan Temple December 19, 1949.

Lael's first wife Laurabelle had died from tuberculosis and within a few months their daughter Carolyn Inez (Kippi) joined Lael and Margaret. Margaret loved Kippi as her own. In 1950 their daughter Shannon Margaret was born. As Margaret focused on becoming wife and mother, Lael graduated from Utah State and they moved to Provo while he finished his Master's. They then moved to Champaign-Urbana, Illinois for his PhD. While there, Margaret served as Primary President of their small branch. By 1954 they were back in Provo and increased the family by 2 sons in 3 years, Jordan Ray and Lexon Dan.

She and Lael had many adventures; including touring in from Salt Lake to New York to Rome to Switzerland or running the Ledges Playhouse in Grand Ledge, Michigan.

She found happiness in working hard, reading, thinking, and listening to music. She liked people but also enjoyed her time alone or with her husband. She feared earthquakes, spiders and dental work. Margaret loved her children and grandchildren and created an orderly, warm, comfortable atmosphere for all to visit and make memories. She was very excited for the upcoming rebuild of the Swenson House at Utah State, honoring her sister and the Swenson legacy.

Margaret loved the Lord and loved serving in His church. Her service included many callings but some of her favorites (and hardest) included Relief Society President (1978-1981) Provo Temple worker (1983-1987) and a mission with Lael to New York South (1994-1995). In her final days she bore her testimony to us, proclaiming "I know that my Redeemer lives!"

Our beloved mother and grandmother was a talented star- but instead of the spotlight she chose to stay in the wings - supporting her husband in his many visible roles. She never felt slighted or needed the attention; quite the opposite; she was content to serve and provide. The love of her family were her accolades. She knew that her most important work was done in the home. We mourn but rejoice in the knowledge that she is reunited with her treasured Lael, children Kippi, Shannon and Lexon. We further know she is with her parents and siblings and many more beyond the veil - we witnessed as they came to bring her home. She is and was our everything.

Margaret is survived by her son, Jordan Ray (Debbe) Woodbury, sister-in-law Delma (Ken) Baldridge, children-in-law, 14 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren and 6 great-great-grandchildren. We miss and love you, and most of all, thank you- dear mother and grandmother for being the perfect Matriarch to our family.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, December 13, 2018 in the Oak Hills 7th Ward Chapel, 1038 North 1200 East, Provo, Utah. The family will receive friends on Wednesday evening from 6 until 8 in the Berg Mortuary of Provo, 185 East Center Street, and at the church on Thursday morning from 9 until 10:15. Interment: Weston City Cemetery, Weston, Idaho. Condolences may be expressed at www.bergmortuary.com.