Kathryn Sorensen Ethington Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

On April 11, 2022, Kathryn Sorensen Ethington peacefully passed away in Mesa, Arizona at the age of 92. Kathryn was born to Ingbert Sorensen and Mary Ellen Ash on April 7, 1930 near Bountiful, Utah. Her family lived in different towns in Utah and in Blackfoot, Idaho before settling in Mesa, where she met and married her sweetheart, Reed T. Ethington, in the Mesa Temple on June 1, 1950. Together they had eight children: Reed T. Ethington Jr.; Roger B. Ethington; Beth Anne van Langen; Neil C. Ethington; Rebecca Ethington, who passed away at birth; Timothy P. Ethington, David S. Ethington, and Daniel R. Ethington. Kathryn was an accomplished pianist and a gifted teacher and leader, who had a way of getting things done while having fun. She shared her talents in many piano performances and years of church service. Creating lovely surroundings was a passion of hers, and reflected her gratitude to God for the beauty in the world. Raising seven of the eight children born to them was her greatest mission. She was a fearless mother whose constant love and encouragement blessed their lives in many ways. She taught them to play the piano, to sing in the church choir, to set a formal table, to work hard, and to love life. She treasured her thirty-seven grandchildren and forty-five great-grandchildren. In 1988, Reed and Kathryn were called to be Spanish-speaking missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the California San Jose Mission. Later, they also served missions in the Florida Tampa Mission and in Santiago, Chile. Kathryn’s breast cancer cut their last mission short, but after treatment, she was able to enjoy many more years with her family. Kathryn was a great collector of jewelry and sterling silver and loved to gift those things to others. Many of her grandchildren remember tea parties at her home with china and silver pickle forks. She loved playing card games at home with family and was always a good sport. Faith in the Lord, love for family, and service to others were the pillars of her life. A viewing will be held on April 21, 2022 at 7:00pm at Meldrum Mortuary in Mesa. The funeral service will take place on Friday, April 22, 2022 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 1451 W. Guadalupe Road, Gilbert, Arizona 85233. A family viewing is scheduled for 9:00am, with the funeral service beginning at 10:00am. She will subsequently be laid to rest in the Mesa Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Humanitarian Fund in her behalf.

Kathryn Sorensen Ethington

April 7, 1930 - April 11, 2022