Jacqueline Leonard Lambson

Jacqueline Leonard Lambson “Jackie” born March 25, 1931, passed away peacefully on June 5, 2025 at the age of 94.

Jackie was born during the great depression in Salt Lake City, the first child of Clarence William and Beatrice Horton Leonard. Her early life experiences were sweet and shaped the remainder of her life.

Jackie attended Whittier Elementary School where she developed a life-long love of reading. In 1962, Jackie and other young mothers started the “Literary Adventurer’s Club” which continued to meet monthly for over 60 years, discussing meaningful books and taking turns being the hostess. They had all become great grandmothers!

Jackie took piano lessons and always loved music. In 6th grade, she remembered feeling “something very special” as she sang, “Beautiful Savior”, composed by her director, Lorin Wheelright. She sang in the “Inner Choir” at South High School and many other choirs throughout her life with her beautiful alto voice. She loved singing in her ward choir and felt a special closeness to the Spirit through music.

On June 7, 1950, she married Ronald Lester Lambson, son of Apolles Lorenzo and Mary Ethyl Young Lambson. They were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple, a goal she had set early in life. She convinced Ron to wait as she was determined to be 19 years old before she got married. From her parents, she had learned to love the temple. Jackie cherished and kept her covenants made in the temple her entire life.

In 1953, Ron and Jackie had 2 small children when they purchased a home in a new development “at the edge of civilization” in East Millcreek. The price was $13,000. There were no homes or trees to block their view. They could sit at the window, while eating hamburgers and french fries and see the capital building on the north and Kennecott Copper on the south. 

It was to this home that Ron and Jackie welcomed 5 more babies— 7 children within 10 years: Craig, Sharon, Brent, Robert, Scott, Mark and Don. Their backyard was the gathering place for the neighborhood children who enjoyed the swings, jungle gym, backetball hoop, drinking fountain, sandbox and playhouse. Ron and Jackie enjoyed their home and the wonderful view of Mt. Olympus for the remainder of their lives. 

Home life for Jackie included sewing pajamas and prom dresses, delivering early morning newspapers, digging dandelions, attending band concerts, going to Liberty Park to hear the orchestra in the bandstand and attending family reunions with frog eye salad and home made root beer. The family stereo was alive with music from “The Carpenters” and “Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass”. Jackie supported her children and brought life and love to the Lambson home. 

Jackie’s life was not easy. When Ron was disabled in 1964, Jackie accepted this trial as her own with grace, patience and her characteristic cheerfulness. She deepened her faith in Heavenly Father which has sustained her through all the difficulties of life. During this time, she supported the family by selling her homemade bread and taking in ironing. 

The Lambsons loved trips in the family camper whether to Southern Utah, Ideal Beach at Bear Lake, or Lava Hot Springs. Jackie and her family cherished countless days at the family cabin which they built with their own labor at Timber Lakes, east of Heber City.  For many years, children and grandchildren watched the deer, floated in the yellow boat on the pond and enjoyed Grandma’s famous buttermilk pancakes for breakfast. There was nothing so wonderful as breakfast at the cabin.  

In 1973, Jackie applied for a part-time secretary position for the Institute of Religion at the University of Utah where she worked for 24 years. Jackie remembers the day the first computer was introduced to the institute which she mastered “even without a manual!” Jackie later became Registrar where she was responsible for all registration, schedules, classrooms, faculty lunches and Friday devotionals. Jackie was loved by all her co-workers and by hundreds of college students who came to know her by name and felt uplifted by her cheerful greeting each day. 

If you spent 5 minutes with Jackie, you would feel she immediately considered you a friend and found a connection—someone you knew that she knew! Everyone knew and loved Jackie! She had a way of making each person feel important. Perhaps it stemmed from her high school days. As a teen at South High, Jackie didn’t want anyone to think she was “stuck-up” so she determined to learn each person’s name and greet them with a smile. That smile became Jackie’s trademark.

Jackie was a faithful, devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She served in many callings including Primary president, Young Women President, Sunday School teacher, Relief Society teacher, Compassionate service leader and Scout leader. She was very proud that each of her 6 boys earned their Eagle Scout award—quite an accomplishment for a mom! 

Jackie was also very proud of her pioneer heritage and felt a great desire to honor her ancestors. For 25 years, Jackie was an active member of the DUP (Daughters of Utah Pioneers) where she served a term as Captain of the Salt Lake Canyon Trails company. 

Jackie was the greatest support to her children and grandchildren. She always listened. She always cared. She always loved us. We will miss her laughter, her Sunday dinners and her homemade rolls, her Christmas morning brunches, her camping chair at Swiss Days, her clear alto voice singing the hymns and her hugs. 

We are comforted to know that she has been welcomed and embraced by her Savior and by many loved ones who have passed on before her. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, Clarence William Leanoard and Beatrice Horton Leonard, her husband, Ronald Lester Lambson, son, Robert William Lambson (Susan Whitehead) and sister Shirley Leonard Parcell (Fred Parcell). 

Jackie is survived by her sister Leona Fitzgerald (Nephi) and six of her seven children, Craig Lambson (Susan Brewster), Sharon Lambson Wood (David Wood), Brent Lambson (Debbie Raines), Scott Lambson (Yeliz Arat), Mark Lambson (Becky Herzog), Don Lambson (Deanna Pace). At the time of her passing, Jackie had 29 grandchildren and 43 great-grandchildren. She made a special point to send a birthday card to each one. Her posterity is still growing and is her greatest treasure.

Jackie wanted her family to know this: “No matter how difficult life becomes, it does have a glorious meaning. Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Parents have the power to mend what is broken, heal what is ill, restore what is lost and assist us to be whole. Hold on to faith, be patient, let life work its purposes and in the end, happiness will embrace us forever.” 

Funeral services will be held Friday, July 11, at 11:00 am at the East Millcreek 16th ward, 3408 South Celeste Way, Salt Lake City .

A viewing will be held Thursday, July 10, Holbrook Mortuary. 3251 S 2300 E, Millcreek, 6:00 to 8:00 pm. 

An additional viewing will be held Friday morning, July 11th, 9:30-10:45, East Millcreek 16th ward. Interment, Salt Lake City Cemetery.

To stream services please visit https://www.youtube.com/live/jZPldDIg800?si=PbNT0pzRbCzCSGTX