Utahna Johnson Kerr

Link to the Livestream of Utahna's service taking place on Friday, April 4, 11AM

Utahna Johnson Kerr, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend passed away peacefully in her home at the age of 93 on March 4, 2025, with a daughter by her side. She was born July 24, 1931 in Preston, Idaho, to Jesse Lamb Johnson and Beatrice Gilbert. She was born on Utah’s state day, and so was named after the Native American princess in the Legend of Mount Timpanogos. She was the oldest of 5 children and learned to work very hard on their ranch. She showed talent early as an artist, and had a special affinity with animals. She also came to love learning, and enjoyed gaining knowledge and skills throughout her life.

After high school graduation, she moved to Salt Lake City and earned her bachelor's degree in nursing. This profession fit her perfectly, as she was kind, compassionate, loving, and intelligent. She worked in emergency, obstetrics, psychiatric, private practice, and general hospital care.

Her hands represented her life and she lived in an attitude of service every day.  She created beautiful quilts, healed the sick, cradled sweet babies and served the lonely. She was strong and steady and was loved and respected by all who met her. Her voice was a gentle reminder that all was well. 

She honored women and taught her daughters to strive for their heart’s desires. She taught them to welcome adventure and to work hard and to not be afraid of new challenges.

She truly was a constant partner to her husband, Larry, and was always by his side, whether it was working in his dental office, hunting in Alaska, designing their dream home, running the Deschutes river in rafts, attending girls’ camp, going to 40 plus years of Blazer games, or providing a week at Shasta Lake for all their posterity for over 30 years.

She also spent over 15 years working with the unwed mothers program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She was an active member in her congregation, and served in all the auxiliary organizations. 

She and Larry welcomed many exchange students, missionaries, single adults, and young families to live with them over the years, with most of them considering Utahna and Larry as second parents.

She was a strong presence at the Gresham Historical Society for over 40 years, where, among other duties, she and her husband presented historical programs to the 4th graders in Gresham for many years. 

She was nominated for Oregon Mother of the Year, showcasing her talents, contributions, years of foster parenting, faith, and family legacy. 

Utahna will join her husband Larry at Willamette National Cemetery. She is survived by a sister Beatrice Winslow, her daughters Rebecca (Jared Nuffer), Linda Michelle (John Christofferson), and Kathleen (Guy Pribyl), as well as 14 grandchildren, and 39 great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband Larry, her daughter Debra (Mark Wilkinson), 2 of her sisters and her younger brother. Also preceded in death by 2 grandchildren (Catherine Callister and Dan Nuffer), and one great grandchild (James Sutherland).

A memorial will be held April 4, 2025, at 11 am, at the Mt. Hood Stake Center, 12300 SE 312th Avenue, Boring, Oregon. Another event will take place in Orem, Utah on her birthday, July 24, with details forthcoming.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the general missionary fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 

Please visit the Guestbook portion of this site and enter a special memory or message. Thank you. 

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.