Gloria Ruth Goodman Andrus, 88, of Rexburg, died on Friday, April 11, 2025 a cancer survivor.

Gloria was born June 25, 1936 on the family homestead in the White Mountains of east-central Arizona, to Lloyd and Ruth Rothlisberger Goodman. Gloria frequently expressed gratitude to her mother for giving birth to her exactly 6 months before and after Christmas. Her family consisted of 9 children — 6 boys and 3 girls; Gloria was the third child, but first daughter. Her first sister was born when Gloria was 13, so she was essentially raised with "the boys." She did a lot of babysitting and diaper-changing. She truly loved her siblings.

Gloria attended elementary school in Vernon, Arizona, and graduated from Mesa High School in 1954. Gloria met Alyn Andrus, from Ucon, Idaho, while he was serving in the Southwest Indian Mission on the Papago Reservation west of Tucson; they were married June 8, 1955 in the Mesa Temple. She was 15 and Alyn was 19 when they met. They had been married for 55 years at the time of Alyn's death in December 2010. Even though she never lived in Arizona after their marriage (except for their 18-month mission), Gloria never lost her love for Arizona.

Alyn graduated from BYU in 1958. While teaching for the LDS Church in Western Samoa, between 1959 and 1962, Gloria and Alyn found their family — Emmie Matua, Steve, and Daniel. While Steve was serving a mission in Arizona, he arranged for Dianna to come to live with the family. These four children have given them much joy and happiness.

Gloria was baptized at age 8 in a stock water tank after the cattle had been shooed away. She served in numerous ward and stake positions throughout her life. In 1981, she was appointed Registrar at Ricks College by Bruce C. Hafen. Alyn taught history for 29 years at Ricks. After retirement, they served a mission in the Arizona Tucson Mission, only 60 miles from where they had met 46 years earlier. Later, during three academic years, they volunteered at the BYU Semester at Nauvoo program.

Gloria researched and wrote two family histories, one on her paternal lines and the other on her maternal lines. She was proud of her pioneer ancestors.

Gloria's father owned a small construction company so she learned to drive a vehicle at an early age. She definitely had "sand in her shoes," and delighted in taking long road trips, either in a vehicle or on her Honda Silverwing 500 motorcycle.

In 2020, Gloria sold her house in Rexburg and went to stay with her son, Daniel, in Springville, Utah, where she spent her final days.

Gloria is a two time cancer survivor, both colon and liver and has lived a long and full life that she loved as shown by those she loved around her.

She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Spending time with her children and grandchildren was always a pleasure. Alyn and she spent valuable family time following Steve and Daniel around in their various sports activities.

She was preceded in death by Alyn, a granddaughter, Tiara Danielson, as well as her parents and five siblings (Dale, Grant, Randy, Rhonda, and Tevis).

She is survived by her beloved sons, Steve (Eleena) of Rexburg, and Daniel of Springville, Utah. Her surviving siblings include Kent (Charlene), Garry (Nikki), and Rita (David Garner). She now has 10 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 3rd at 11:00 a.m. at the Ucon LDS Chapel, 10854 N 41st E, Ucon, ID. The family will receive friends 9:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. before the funeral.  Burial will be in the Ucon Cemetery 3960 105th N, Ucon, ID under the direction of Flamm Funeral Home.

Service will be broadcasted at: https://my.gather.app/remember/gloria-andrus-2025