Clara Leone Balli Fredrickson Obituary (1922 - 2012)

Clara Leone Balli Fredrickson, our mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend passed away peacefully on January 29, 2012 of causes incident to age. Leone was born April 14, 1922 in Salt Lake City to Friedrich Jakob Balli and Clara Elizabeth Schwaar Balli. She attended local area schools and graduated from East High School in 1940. She then attended LDS Business College. Leone was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints her entire life. From 1943 to 1945 Leone served in the East Central States Mission under President Graham H. Doxey. This was a time when, due to WWII, very few men served missions. Leone responded to a direct call from her bishop, Sterling W. Sill, and her mission was just the beginning of a lifetime of service in the Church. She loved her mission and the wonderful people of Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia. During 1944 Leone served as mission secretary. In 1947, Leone was introduced to Leslie John Fredrickson by one of her missionary companions, Maxine Royal Garff. Leone and Les were married in July of that year in the Logan, Utah Temple. Together, they raised five children, until Les passed away in August 1966. Professionally, Leone was an executive secretary. She worked as a proofreader for E. Cecil McGavin, a noted author of Mormon history and theology. She also worked for Utah Power and Light in the 1940’s and for Murray City School District from 1967 to 1987. Leone loved serving others. She served as president of the Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary organizations in her ward as well as many other callings in the LDS Church. She served for several years as an ordinance worker in the Jordan River, Utah Temple. From 1994 to 1996 Leone served as president of the Murray Women’s Club. Leone enjoyed working with her hands. She was an excellent seamstress. She also won numerous awards at the county and state levels for her needlepoint, latch-hooking, bottling, and candy making. A favorite pastime was working in her rose garden. She spent hours there and gave away hundreds of beautiful flowers over the years. Passersby would ask for roses and she would give them with a smile. Leone loved her children and grandchildren and enjoyed participating in their various activities and sharing in their many accomplishments. She had a sharp wit and an unrivaled sense of humor. Leone is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and her older brothers Richard Balli and Frederick (Bodell) Balli. She is survived by her brother Glenn (DeNiese) Balli; sister-in-law Ruth Balli; children Sondra (Draney) Smith, David (Darlene) Fredrickson, Jane (Kent) Fitzgerald, Paula (Douglas) Stutz, and Lynn (Julie) Fredrickson; 26 grandchildren, 64 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren. A funeral service will be held Friday, February 3, 2012 at noon at Garden Park Ward, 1150 Yale Avenue, with a viewing held one hour prior to the service. A viewing will also be held Thursday, February 2 from 6:00-8:00pm at Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary, 4760 South State Street. Interment will be in the Murray City Cemetery.