Arva Witbeck, 89, of West Valley City, Utah, passed away in a hospital due to complications from a surgery in Salt Lake City on June 3, 2025.

Arva was born March 29, 1936, in Sutherland, Millard County, Utah, the daughter of Silas Earl Johnson and Mary Elva Draper. She was the fifth of six children.

Arva grew up in the Sutherland/Delta, Utah area with her family. They lived on a small farm, and they all worked together. She and her siblings were very close and loved each other. Arva and her youngest sister, Jeri, were especially close. They are only a year and a half apart, and they were each other's best friends their entire lives. Arva loved her family. She, with her parents, worried about her older brothers when they went to war during World War II, and they all stayed close throughout their lives.

She continued her education at Brigham Young University, where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education. During that time, she had a good friend, Nancy Pistorius, who introduced Arva to her brother, Harold Witbeck. Harold and Arva fell in love, and even though Harold was in the Army and stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, they found a way to get together. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on December 20, 1957. They started their family with their first daughter, Marianne. Throughout the years, they added more children: Eilene, Wynette, David, Brent, and ReNae.

In 1960, Harold and his brothers bought three lots in Granger, Utah, and Harold and Arva built their home on one of them. They had a loan from the bank where they had to pay $100.00 a month. Arva's dad was so worried about such a high payment. They loved that house, area, and the neighbors.

She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She loved the gospel and Jesus Christ. She was dedicated to her Heavenly Father and held many church callings. She always went above and beyond to fulfill them. She worked in the Jordan River Temple, in the cafeteria, for several years. She was very service oriented and very kind.

Arva had many talents. She liked to sew. She and her sisters-in-law taught sewing in 4-H for many years until her girls were all grown up. She canned all kinds of fruits and grew a garden. She loved growing tomatoes. She didn't waste her time watching television, she was always doing something productive. She taught kindergarten for several years. Above everything her family meant the most in her life.

She is survived by her sister, Jeri Johnson Sheehy; her children: Marianne Rankin of Tremonton, Utah, Eilene (Richard) Stallings of Blackfoot, Idaho, Wynette (Steven) Ellis of Blackfoot, Idaho, David (Keri) Witbeck of Providence, Utah, ReNae Hymas of West Valley City, Utah; 13 grandchildren, 31 & ½ great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Harold Witbeck; her parents, Earl and Mary Johnson; her oldest sister, Verl ; her brothers: June E. Johnson, Mern Dale Johnson, Lee Bern Johnson; her infant son, Brent Witbeck; and a son-in-law, Doug Hymas.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, June 13, 2025, at the Heritage Ward LDS Chapel, 4634 Harman Dr., West Valley City, Utah. The family will receive friends from 6-8:00 p.m., Thursday, June 12, 2025, and one hour prior to services both at the church. Interment will be at the Valley View Cemetery in West Valley City. The services will be livestreamed on Facebook at Facebook.com/coltrinmortuary. Services are under the care of Coltrin Mortuary, 2100 First Street, Idaho Falls. Condolences may be sent online at www.coltrinmortuary.com.