Roma Smith

Our Beloved sweet mother Roma Beth Smith passed away peacefully on the morning of June 10, 2023 just 3 days shy of her 91st birthday. It was on the 10th anniversary of her sweetheart’s passing. After a Valiant struggle with Dementia we are happy for her to be back with her Husband and family that she loved so very much.
 
Roma was born on June 13, 1932 to John LaVel Smith and Olive Hogan. She talked of a wonderful childhood in Sandy, Utah. She learned the skills of being a wife and mother from her Grandmother Stevenson & her mother Olive whom she loved very much.  Just 10 days after her 18th birthday she married Joseph Milton Smith on June 23, 1950 in the Salt Lake Temple and she was able to start putting those skills to work.  She often said that she went from being a city girl to a farmer’s wife. She and “Milt” moved in with his parents and then shortly thereafter bought some land from his father and moved a trailer to their land on 300 E in Draper and there she stayed.
 
In 1951 Roma gave birth to their first son Joseph Michael who passed away hours later. This was a sad time for her but she knew that one day she would see her son again.  In 1953 her son David was born and then she contracted Polio. After long months of treatment mom was able to return to her normal routine she always credited a blessing from her faithful Bishop and their faith that the effects of the polio were minor compared to what they could have been.  Roma and Milt were then blessed with 5 more boys and 4 girls. She also fostered a 5th daughter Tomi Day. Roma loved her large family and was a dedicated mother who tried to teach her children to be obedient, honest and true to the Savior.
 
Roma was a faithful and active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many callings. Her favorite was serving alongside her husband and companion Milt on several missions and in the Temple.  
 
Roma loved to dance with Milt and would often dance around their home.  She sang in the ward choir and also loved to  travel.  She alongside Milt was blessed to see much of the world visiting temples and sharing their testimonies wherever they went. 
 
Roma’s greatest joy was her family.  She loved her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and was always excited to see them.  She learned to quilt from her grandmother and mother and made sure that everyone got a quilt when they were born, and married.  She looked forward to each new baby and loved to hold and hug them. Her gracious spirit, smiling face and zest for life will be missed.
 
The family would like to thank the nurses and staff at the Ashford memory care and Inspiration Hospice services for all the love and care they gave her.
 
Roma was preceded in death by her parents, husband Joseph Milton, son Joseph Michael, son Alan Thomas, granddaughter Nikki Haglund, grandson Kyle Smith, and two great grandsons. She is survived by 2 of her brothers Kay Hogan (Neva) Smith and Kari Randall (Lorna) Smith and 3 brothers-in-laws Josef Zillner, Lynn Smith and Ray Smith, her children David Milton (Ann) Smith, Robert LaVel (Li-Ling) Smith, Christine (Bruce) Westwood, Colleen (Curtis) Dahl, Carolyn (Rick) Haglund, Douglas Michael (Sherri) Smith, Paul DelRay (Diane) Smith, Joseph Bradford (Laura) Smith, Connie (Troy) Groo, Foster daughter Tomi (Kenneth) Day, 47 Grandchildren, 80 Great Grandchildren and 2 Great Great Grandchildren.

If you would like to give your condolences a Viewing will be held Friday, June 16, 2023, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Anderson & Goff Mortuary, 11859 South 700 East, Draper, Utah. Funeral services to be held at 11:00 a.m. on June 17, 2023, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint Chapel on 420 East Stokes Avenue, Draper, with a viewing preceding the services at 10:00 a.m.