Ruth Elva Jenks

Ruth Elva Jenks, 87, of Boise, passed away peacefully at home, Friday, September 13, 2019. She was born January 8, 1932, in Vorup, Randers, Denmark, to Sigfred Karl Herman Koitzsch and Anna Elna Kirstine Pedersen. She has two brothers and two sisters. She was born and raised in Denmark. She lived through the Nazi occupation of Denmark during WWII and learned lifelong coping skills for the benefit of her family. She was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and immigrated to the United States in 1952 for religious reasons. She came through Ellis Island with $50. She crossed the country from New York to Pocatello, Idaho, with only a Danish-English dictionary as she spoke no English. In Pocatello, she lived with her sponsors, Earl and Della Packer, and then moved to Manti with her sister Kathel, where she was a seamstress, sewing for the military. She married Elmo Lee Jenks June 18, 1954, in the Church’s Idaho Falls Temple when he returned from a church mission to Uruguay. They moved to Glenns Ferry , Idaho, when Elmo graduated from college and started his teaching career. Five years later, they moved to Boise where they happily raised their family of five children. They were able to have 64 wonderful years together before Elmo passed away July 21, 2018. They enjoyed their 26 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Ruth was well known for her knitting skills and was an exceptional seamstress. She sewed clothing for her family and others, including suits and numerous prom and wedding dresses. She also supported her husband in all of his activities, i.e., sewing tents for his scout troop. She ran a day care for many years and loved all the children she tended. She considered them family. She loved both flower and vegetable gardening and kept a beautiful yard. One of her favorite activities was the yearly camping trip and times spent in McCall.

She is survived by her children; Elva (Craig) Jensen, Kenneth (Akiko) Jenks, Pearl (John) Bown, Karl (Pam) Jenks, and Annabelle (Tarrill) Jones; 21 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Allis Oborn. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Elmo; her parents, Sigfred Karl Herman Koitzsch and Anna Elna Kirstine Pedersen; two brothers, Villy Emanuel and Hugo Koitzsch; and one sister, Kathel Karen Howard.