Sister Ruth Hardy Funk, who served as the Young Women general president from 1972-78, died at her home in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 5. Sister Funk was 93.
Sister Funk was first called to serve on the Young Women Mutual Improvement Association Board (predecessor to the Young Women General Board) at the age of 29. After her time there, she spent ten years serving on the Church's Correlation Committee until she was called again to serve as president of the Young Women in the Aaronic Priesthood MIA from Nov. 1972-74.
On June 23, 1974, Sister Funk was called as the Young Women general president, where she served until 1978.
In 2009, President Thomas S. Monson honored Sister Funk for her service at a special Church luncheon. Sister Mary N. Cook, first counselor in the Young Women general presidency, said this about Sister Funk: "Always an optimist and with an incredible zest for living, she has shared that zeal with countless children and youth. She is known for her love of music and youth and those two loves were often combined during her service."
In addition to her service in the community and Church, Sister Funk is remembered for her great musical abilities. She began her love of music at the age of 5 with a beginning piano class and later matured into an accomplished musician. She earned a degree in music in 1938 from the University of Utah, and spent many years as an avid pianist, choir leader and high school music teacher. Sister Funk was also a member of the National Council of Women and was elected to the Utah State Board of Education from 1985-92.
Sister Funk was born in Chicago on Nov. 9, 1917, to Thomas Frederick and Polly Reynolds Hardy. She married Marcus C. Funk in the Salt Lake Temple in 1938, and together they had four children, 19 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren.
Sister Funk is preceded in death by her husband, parents, three brothers and a grandson. A funeral is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 18, at 11 a.m., at the Parley's 3rd Ward, 2625 Stringham Ave., Salt Lake City.
