Barbara Lena Ballard

June 3, 1936 - September 5, 2015

Our wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt, Barbara Lena Ballard passed away peacefully at her home in Manti, UT on September 5th, 2015 at the age of 79. She was surrounded by her family who loved her. Barbara was born on June 3rd, 1936 in Altadena, CA to Harrison Reed and Viola Gunnell (Olsen) Niles. She has an older half- sister, sister and younger brother. Barbara’s parents built a home in Highland Park, CA, and they moved in when she was one. She had a happy childhood there. Her and her younger brother Rex had a lot of fun and adventures. She like to roller skate, and play in the playhouse her father provided for her. She and Rex and other friends liked to go ice skating, which she loved. She was involved in school clubs, and music groups. She loved to sing, and had a beautiful voice. She had many opportunities through her life to sing in choirs and solo. She also sang on several radio programs when she was young. After graduation from Benjamin Franklin High School she worked at General Petroleum in downtown LA for a year to save money for college. Barbara attended Brigham Young University in Provo, UT, pursuing a music degree. She would come back home to Highland Park to work during the summer. Barbara met Ronald Neil Ballard on a blind date in 1960. Two months later they were engaged, and one month later on January 26, 1961 they were married for time and all eternity in the Los Angeles Temple. They had a good marriage, and were only separated by death for 11 days. They have four children. After their honeymoon Ron and Barbara moved back to Provo, UT so Ron could attend Brigham Young University. Barbara worked at the university during this time. While attending school, Ron decided to try his hand at selling life insurance. He didn’t really like it, so he packed up his little family and moved back to Pasadena, CA. Barbara worked as a key-punch operator until they had their third child. She was able to be a stay at home mom from then on. They lived in Pasadena for six years after which they purchased a home in Simi Valley, CA, and lived there until his retirement. Ron and Barbara thought they might move back to Utah someday and Ron had always wanted to manage his own rental properties. So they decided to take an early retirement and move to Manti, UT, where they purchased, fixed up, and managed a number of properties. Ron and Barbara loved fishing, hiking and the outdoors. They instilled a love of the outdoors in all their children. She was a faithful member of the LDS Church and held many callings through the years. Barbara and Ron were called to serve as temple workers and were happy serving in the Manti temple. She loved doing genealogy, and she and Ron were also called to be family history consultants. Barbara is survived by her children: Brenda (Dennis) McDonald, Todd, Brian (Rain), and Troy. Grandchildren, Amber, Abigail, Tara, Caleb, Sierra, and Logan. Brother, Rex Niles. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harrison and Viola, sister Shirley (Woodruff) Niles, and half-sister Katherine (Lucena) Niles. She was a good wife, mother, and grandmother, her family meant everything to her. She will be missed by many. Graveside services and interment will be held Wednesday, September 9th, 2015 at 11:00 am in the Manti City Cemetery. The family would like to express their heart-felt gratitude to the Gunnison Valley Hospital Home Care personnel for their loving care of our Mother. Funeral Directors: Utah Valley Mortuary.