Rufus Glen Sherwood's Obituary
Rufus Glen Sherwood, was called home by our Lord on Saturday, July 1, 2023, with a massive heart attack. Glen was born December 19, 1931, in Kimball, Alberta, Canada to Rufus Everett and Ella Roena (Tanner) Sherwood. He was pre-deceased by two infant sisters, Pearl and Elda Pearl, as well as a younger sister, Aarla, and wives, Barbara Ann Brown and Eileen Grimaz. He leaves a large family behind and is survived by his wife, Peggy; children (with wife, Barbara): Shelly and husband, Allen Loveless of Kirkland, WA; Scott and Janell of Arlington, WA; Cam and Julie of Eureka, MT; and Clayton and Rhonda of South Jordan, UT. With wife, Eileen, they had Mark and wife, Audrey of South Jordan, UT. Glen was a loving step-father to Eileen’s children, Barbara and husband, James Conrad of British Columbia, Canada; Craig and Linda Evers of Chubbock, ID; as well as Peggy’s children: Jeffrey Peterson (deceased), John and Gracie (deceased), and Kathleen of Hacienda Heights, CA; and Janet and Rick Chevalier of Monroe, UT. Siblings include Lola and Bob (deceased) Litchfield of Bountiful, UT; Jim and Erva of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Eldon and Maralyn of Suwanee, GA; and DonaMarie and Roger Zollinger of Phoenix, AZ; as well as 107 grandchildren which includes 46 grands, 60 great-grands, and 1 great-great-grandchild---not to mention many more who loved him and knew him as “Grandpa Glen!” He is also loved by numerous nieces and nephews who often enjoyed listening and singing along while Uncle Glen played his guitar.
Glen learned to play the guitar as a young man and began calling square dances. He served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the South Africa Mission from 1951-53 where he and his companion introduced square dancing in what was then called Northern Rhodesia. Glen could still remember some Afrikaans and enjoyed speaking to our recent cruise server from South Africa. When he returned from his mission, he attended BYU in their Marketing program. He enjoyed singing and playing with his band, the “Rhythm Ramblers.” It was at BYU that Glen met and married his soul mate, Barbara Ann Brown. Seven years later, Barbara unexpectedly passed, leaving him with four little ones. He was grateful for parents and sisters who helped him with the children. Three years passed until he met another love, Eileen Grimaz. After Eileen died, he married an old friend, Peggy Ostic Peterson.
Glen spent most of his life in construction---designing, building, and inspecting homes. He had the gift of knowing how things went together and was always ready to help anyone who needed assistance with a building or repair project, or anything else for that matter. He also had an entrepreneurial spirit. Glen served on the local HOA board for at least ten years and his primary concern was the well-being of his neighbors. He loved writing poetry and songs and, more recently, he was focusing on seeing the world through limericks. Even though his sight and hearing were diminished, he enjoyed learning new things via the computer and YouTube. His next project included a website called Limericks-A-Day, where he wanted to teach people how easy it is to write limericks. Glen was even playing on the Internet with Artificial Intelligence on ChatGPT!
After spending 64 years in the U.S. on a “Green Card,” Glen decided it was time to become an American citizen. He was always happy to be a “Canuck,” but did shed a tear or two of pride when he recited the oath to “support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America,” in 2018.
Whenever someone asked how he was doing, Glen’s answer was either, “Dang near perfect!” or, “Sweet, kind, and humble!” He often added with a twinkle in his eye, “and I’m most proud of my humility!” Of course, it was meant in jest and always met with laughter!
Glen is so loved and will be very missed by so many family members and friends who are grateful to have had him in their lives.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm on Thursday, July 20, 2023 at the Western Springs 2nd Ward, 12877 South 4570 West ~ Riverton, Utah. Following the funeral service, please join us in the cultural hall for some square-dancing fun.
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