Ronelda Brinkerhoff

Ronelda “Ronnie” Brinkerhoff, Tropic, Utah

    Ronelda Allene Riddle Brinkerhoff, 76, passed away February 12, 2024 in Cedar City. She was born September 16, 1947 in Richfield to Porter C and Emma Allene Savage Riddle. She married Raymond Brinkerhoff on May 15, 1965 in the St. George Temple.

    Mom was raised in Henrieville and proud of it. She had many fond memories there of neighbors, friends, and get togethers with family. She spent hours exploring the hills of Henrieville and loved relaxing under the big willow tree in her yard. 

    Mom was a loving mother and a fierce defender of her family. She had a calming voice that could make you feel like everything was right with the world. She was always full of good advice and a voice of reason. She would have done anything for us and there was never a time we didn’t feel loved by her. We were her pride and joy. Family was number one to her and keeping us kids together was one thing she always tried to do. She also loved her grandkids, great- grandkids, and great-great-grandkids to no end. 

    Mom loved her sweetheart Raymond. This coming May would have been their 59th wedding anniversary. Dad was the love of her life and had been since she was 14 years old. They loved to dance especially the “Tropic Stomp”. They could dance like no other and had a wonderful time being together on the dance floor. 

    Mom loved to sing since she was a little girl. Whenever there was a party at the old schoolhouse in Henrieville her dad would put her up on the stage for all to hear her sing. In high school she won vocal competitions and would later sing at weddings, funerals, and to us kids.

    Mom excelled at academics especially English. She took her love of writing and authored several short stories as well as a historical romance novel titled, “Savage Rebels.” This was a huge accomplishment for her especially because she was a busy full-time mom to four young children. Many a night was spent in her office typing away until the early morning hours. 

    Mom had a great love of music. There was always music played in our home, especially Elvis Presley. She always said she had two loves, Dad, and Elvis. Many trips were spent listening to music and jamming out with the stereo volume as high as it would go. 

    Mom was an artist. She loved to draw, watercolor, oil paint, sketch, you name it she could do it with ease. Many of her oil paintings are proudly displayed on the walls of her home. She also loved to craft. She would go on to open a shop she named “Cowboy Dreams” where she would sell her homemade items. It was here she set up Tropic’s one and only movie rental shop. She loved movies and renting them out for others to enjoy. 

    Mom was a perfectionist, had a knack for interior design, and she loved a clean house. She always tried to make sure everything was exactly right. Mom always had a project or two going on either in the house or outside in the yard. 

    Mom enjoyed all of God’s beauty He created, especially the “Pink Mountain.” Mom loved her rock gardens and would spend hours walking up and down creek beds looking for the perfect rock to take home. 

    She worked various jobs throughout her life and made a lot of friends along the way. Her favorite position was working as a seasonal park ranger at Bryce Canyon National Park. She enjoyed sharing her knowledge of Bryce Canyon. Mom was a people person and was at ease speaking with tourists from all over the world about the place she called home. 

    Mom was a friend to the friendless and never met a stranger. She seen the good in people when others couldn’t. Some of her best friends were people who had been shunned by others. She had a kind and caring heart and tried to make people feel loved and valued. 

    Mom was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and had a strong testimony of her Savior, Jesus Christ. We are forever grateful to our mom and the love she freely gave to us and for the sacrifices she made on our behalf. We are grateful to have a knowledge of the plan of salvation and know that “Families Are Forever”.

    She is survived by her husband, Raymond; children: Sherel (Kirt) Rosenberg, Cedar City; Amber (Stephen) Simons, Moab; Dianna (Randel) Leslie, Tropic; Clint (Stephanie) Brinkerhoff, Cannonville; 21 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren; sister, Diana Barney; close family friend, JoAnn Harkleroad.

    Preceded in death by parents; granddaughter: Savannah Chynoweth; siblings: Floyd “Lavarro” Riddle, Roland “Kirk” Riddle, Maria Eddleman; close friend, Dwayne Harkleroad.

    Funeral services will be held Monday, February 19, 2024 at 12:00 Noon in the Tropic Ward Chapel, where friends may call from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. Burial will be in the Tropic Cemetery. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti. Online guestbook at www.maglebymortuary.com