Memories from Sharon & Deon Gubler

Maurine was great gal! She was on of our game night pals. When she was able to come or have us over. Mexican hat in dominoes was her favorite game, though she liked other games too. She had a lovely singing voice and we enjoyed her sweet, friendly, warm spirit. I missed her presence in church/RS and wish she was still with us.

Memories from Julie Musselman

I enjoyed the opportunities to sing with Maurine in several groups in our ward. Her love of music was very evident and she had a lovely voice and very sweet spirit. She reminded me a little of my own dear mother who I have missed for a long time.
Last August when you where all enjoying your vacation in Hawaii my daughter and I came into the Polynesian Cultural Center. What a surprise to see Maurine waving at us from her wheel chair in line for dinner. How wonderful that you all had the opportunity to travel with her as a family one last time. Your mother radiated warmth, wisdom and generosity. It was a pleasure to know her - even for a little while. We will miss her in our ward.

Memories from Katie Geary

I have had the privilege of knowing "Grandma M & M" for only a few years, but during that time I feel I got a great sense of what an amazing woman she was. She came to my home to pick apricots and watching this woman get around through the trees was remarkable I will miss her happy spirit and positive influence.

Memories from Carolyn McDonald

I remember my mother and Maurine always singing together. They told me that their mothers had taught them to sing lots of cute little songs. She sang them to them all day long. A few years ago they went down to a Francis reunion in the Springville Ward house. I brought a tape recorder and had them sing as many of those songs as they could remember. It was such a fun day to spend with them. The music was wonderful. I appreciate the memories that the music has brought to me. I know that Maurine had recalled many of the songs that my mother couldn't recall until she began singing and vice versa. I love your mom!

Memories from Janet & Jim Harmon

When I think of Maurine I think of serenity. Even when we knew her and Emil in the Los Altos ward, she was a calming, peaceful influence. Jim and I both enjoyed singing with her and Emil. It was a thrill to find her in the Cascade 1st Ward when we moved here. I've sung with her, and shared books with her since then.

Memories from Linda Van Orman

What a wonderful neighbor Maurine was. We shared music, food and fun. After my mother passed away, I even went to her for advice. I loved her dearly.

Memories from Elaine Tenney Wright

When Marian & Vorris went on a mission. We went to an extended family reunion. Everyone asked how they were and we passed along the mission news. It had been a couple of years since we had seen out parents and being at the Francis reunion made us miss them even more. All of a sudden Maurine came over (she had come to the reunion unexpectedly from California) I remember the feeling of joy I had seeing your mom, as she looked and sounded so much like my own mother. I couldn't stop the tears of joy for the tender mercy of a hug from a "near-mom" who looked just like mine.

Memories from Marie Allen

My heart goes out to all of you in the family left behind after Maurine's passing. She was so very proud of and grateful for her family. I have always looked up to Maurine and tried to learn from her. By example she has taught me and those around her about love and devotion to family, faith and trust in God and the truthfulness of the restored Gospel, the importance of staying active and healthy, developing talents, enjoying life, life-long learning and using humor to get through life among other things. She will be deeply missed but I know that she is now completely free and able to express her wonderful personality and talents with loved ones that she has not seen for a long time. I can almost hear her laugh.....I hope that the good memories that you have of your mother will sustain you at this time of loss.

Memories from Myron & Ellen Frazier

It was wonderful being able to know you for such a short time in this life. we will not be here for the viewing and the funeral, but we pass along our regrets for not being there and our sorrow at her passing. We will miss a friend!!!

Memories from Deon & Sharon Gubler

We enjoyed your company so much, especially on "game nights"! You were so sweet, fun, and nice to have around. So sorry, you had to leave this world without one more fun time! You are special!

Memories from Jenna Lawyer

This is the last picture I have of me with Grandma. I will cherish it always. I am grateful that Grace and I were able to come for her funeral and to remember what an amazing woman she was. Listening to the words that were spoken by Uncle Bob and Uncle Gary at the funeral about her life made me want to be a better person - someone like her. I wish I could remember lots more about her, but what I do remember is her love for music, the arts and her love for life. She was always on the go, never slowing, always giving, always loving. She was a woman of grace and compassion and I am ever grateful for her example. I am so happy that she is with her sweetheart now. And as the tears begin to fall now, I realize how full my heart is and how grateful I am to know that I will see her again. Families ARE forever!

Memories from David Larsen

Speaking for the in-laws, I know we will miss Mom Malmberg greatly. She was an inspiration to all who knew her. Her great family is a testimony of her spirit, wisdom, and determination to always do the right thing.

Obituary

Maurine Francis Malmberg 1924 ~ 2009

Maurine Francis Malmberg, 84, died Monday, March 30, 2009, in Orem, Utah. She was born July 22, 1924 in Lakeshore, Utah, to Samuel Evan and Barbara Ferguson Francis. She married Emil A.F. Malmberg, Jr. December 7, 1943 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He passed away November 29,1998.Maurine graduated from Springville High School and attended BYU for a year then attending Foothill College. She really loved and enjoyed music and performed with various groups in California and Utah. She collected old sheet music and taught music in school. Her various interests included writing, poetry, history, art, dancing, and travel. She loved the mountains and enjoyed nature, and was involved in humanitarian aid with Deseret Industries putting together aid packets.She served a genealogy mission in Salt Lake City and worked as a tour guide at the Conference Center. Keeping up with her family was very important to her. She has been a temple worker for many years.

She is survived by her children: Denise Larsen, Payson; Robert Malmberg, Westminster, California; Karen Taylor, Kechi, Kansas; Richard Malmberg, North Richland Hills, Texas; Alan Malmberg, Flower Mound, Texas and Gary Malmberg, Mesa, Arizona. She is also survived by 23 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren, 4 brothers: Reed Francis, Rulon Francis, Samuel Francis, Evan Francis and 3 sisters: Lila Madsen, Marian Tenney and Carol Loveless. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister, Deon Francis, and 2 brothers, Marvin & Rell Francis.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, April 3, 2009, at Cascade Stake Center, 481 East Center Street, Orem, Utah. Family and friends may call from 11:45-12:45 p.m. prior to the services at the church. Interment will be held at the Spanish Fork City Cemetery

Memories from Krista Bontrager

I have many fond memories of grandma. The first one that comes to mind was when we went to visit her and grandpa in Los Altos one summer. She would always cook such wonderful food and we so looked forward to dinner. However....she would walk around the table filling each tall glass to the top with milk. Then she would say..."Now grandma wants you to drink it all...so you can have strong bones!" I remember staring at that cup wondering how I was going to make that milk disappear!
Grandma and Grandpa surprised us one visit by taking us to Disneyland Theme Park and Grandpa payed for everyone! We felt like we we're dreaming as we had a childhood wish come true that sunny day!
Grandma loved to have us girls help her pick ripe fruits from all of her fruit trees in the backyard. I remember how much she loved dried prunes...it always made me gag to watch her eat them! LOL
Grandma and Grandpa instilled such a love for music in all who surrounded them. They radiated such joy and delight when playing an instrument or singing a song. I have fond memories of music concerts we held performing for them. I remember one particular song that was performed where I played piano while Bryce sang, "Not to say Good-bye" and I could feel such a warm feeling enter the room. You could feel the unity of the family and the spirit abide with us there.
Another fun memory was listening to Grandpa play the harmonica while Grandma accompanied on the ukalaylee. They we're so happy and in love.I can remember having a fashion show with Tara, Cherice, Erika, myself. Then Bryce and I acted out "Hans and Frans" and made everyone laugh hysterically!
I can remember the black squirrels and how they drove grandma nuts literally. She was agitated from them eating her fruits. So my Dad got Gary's bee-bee gun and went out in the yard for shooting practice. They were pretty far up in those palm trees but if I remember right....Dad got one or two of them. Grandma was worried the cops would come.
Those are just a few cherished memories I have to share about Grandma. I love her dearly and will miss her so much. I am grateful for her example of faith, charity, and love. She has left behind a wonderful legacy.
My loving thoughts. Krista Bontrager

Memories by Tara Brown

Memories of Grandma M...there are so many. One of my earliest memories was when I was 5, and she and Grandpa shipped 2 violins to our house. It was love at first sight! Unfortunately I was only 5, and the violins were full-sized so they didn't fit my short little arms and fingers. Mom and Dad forbid me to "mess" with them because I was "too little," but it didn't deter me. When my Mom was busy I would often quietly sneak in, open the cases, decide which violin looked "the most pretty" at the moment, and then I carefully picked it up and quietly plucked the strings teaching myself to play simple tunes by ear until I was "big enough" to start learning in 4th grade. Grandma and Grandpa's encouragement with all types of music was contagious. I specifically remember a time when Grandma and Grandpa came to Kansas to visit. I was about 9 or 10 years old. Knowing the Malmberg Swedish heritage was important to them both, my family took them to a small Swedish town in Kansas called Lindsborg, KS during a festival. As we were walking around the festival I remember Grandma and I paused to listen to a group of folk musicians play beautiful and FAST fiddle music. I ABSOLUTELY FELL IN LOVE. While I was mainly involved with classical music growing up, when I was working on my music major at B.Y.U. I one day heard those familiar folk music tones from that day in Lindsborg, and immediately inquired what the group was that was playing it. It was the B.Y.U. Folk Music Ensemble. I joined, and ended up touring with the B.Y.U. International Folk Dance Ensemble all over the world. Who would have thought that could have stemmed from a quite moment at a Swedish Festival in Lindsborg, KS at age 10? But Grandma's influence didn't stop there.Knowing that one of the folk dance tours was going to be a split tour (June and August), Grandma encouraged me to not waste paying rent on an apartment I wasn't going to be living in most of the summer, but to come live with she and Grandpa. It ended up being a blessing for everyone involved. As a result of that decision, Grandma strongly encouraged me to attend the singles ward, and especially an upcoming opening summer social. I had been ill with bronchitis, and had not planned on attending, but Grandma -- being the inspired woman she is, was ADAMENT that I attend, so much so that she had tears in her eyes. I knew that she "knew" something I didn't, and that I needed to attend even if only for a few minutes. Wouldn't you know my dear husband, David, was the first person I met that night. When I think of the eternal significance of finding your eternal companion in this life, I feel a profound sense of gratitude for Grandma's influence and intervention because I was in a very narrow minded frame of mind at that time. I had had a lot of bad dating experiences, was bitter, and after graduation had planned on moving on by throwing myself into a career. I thought to myself, "If a guy wants me, they'll have to find me and convince me." I am grateful for Grandma's persistence with me, and for the opportunity I had to be of assistance to her in helping take care of Grandpa during his last stages of alzheimers before he passed away 3 weeks before my wedding.I love how Grandma taught me to make rolls -- her Lionhouse recipe is still one of my favorites. She taught me to can fruit, tomatoes, and concord grape juice. We canned together nearly every year. Her stamina is amazing to me. I love that she told me so many things about our heritage. I love that she was such a good example of reading her scriptures, and having a strong and faithful attitude toward approaching the challenges of life. When I was crying and discouraged she would often lovingly encourage me, and tell me, "Tara, now let's not have that. There is no use for crying. Crying doesn't fix a thing. You just need to exercise more faith. M'kay?" When I think back on the challeges she faced as a child with living during the Great Depression, losing her Dad to cancer at such a young age as well as her siblings Deon, and Marvin at such young ages, and she watching her widowed mother work so hard to provide for the remaining 9 children -- I can see how she survived those trageties and became the strong, faithful woman that she is.Grandma and Grandpa were powerful influences in my life. I love them dearly, and deeply miss them both.Love,Tara

Memories of Maurine Malmberg

Welcome everyone to the blog which has been created for Maurine Malmberg and her loved ones. This is a place where we as family and friends can come to share our memories of our beloved mother, sister, twin, aunt, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend.
If you would like to share a memory please email it to maurinemalmberg@yahoo.com I will then add it right to the blog or you can leave it in a comment form. We would love as a family for you to share your memories of Maurine.
Thanks