Ruth Jacqueline Lehenbauer

Ruth Jacqueline Benson Lehenbauer passed away at age 92 on April 1, 2026 in Poway, CA. Ruth and her parents, Serge Nelson Benson and Elizabeth Horton Benson, were long-time residents of Logan, Utah.

Ruth was born in 1933 in Washington DC, and grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland with 5 siblings. As a young adult Ruth moved with her parents to Logan, then returned decades later with a family of her own to build a home.

Over the years Ruth created art, poetry, and music, with success in music composition contests sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. One of her songs is published in the Children’s Songbook. She had a lovely singing voice and served for many years as a pianist, organist, and choir director.

Ruth attended USU briefly in 1951, then earned a B.A. (1955) and M.A. (1958) in French from BYU. She served a mission for the Church in West Germany from 1958 to 1960, then pursued a PhD while teaching French, German, English, and vocal Music at USU. One of her French students, a smart engineer and Marine sergeant named Ottomar ‘Tom’ Lehenbauer, worked up the nerve to ask her on a date. They were later married in the Logan Temple in 1963.

In 1969 Ruth and Tom Lehenbauer moved to Dearborn, Michigan where Tom began a career at Ford Motor Company. Together they raised six children, actively served in church (Dearborn Ward), and eventually moved to Utah. There, Ruth occasionally taught middle- and high school classes and published two books on reforming the school system. She endeavored to improve education by starting the Utah Coalition for Freedom in Education, authoring articles and a newsletter series, and visiting the state capitol to connect with legislators to champion school choice.

Ruth dedicated herself to the welfare and instruction of her children and lifted and nurtured others around her along the way. Her wise counsel, love of people and life, and willingness to open her heart and home blessed many.

Ruth was predeceased by her caring and dutiful husband Tom and her son Edwin, and was survived by five of her children: Ernest (Peggy) (HI), Eric (UT), Elizabeth (Giovanni) (CA), Eugene (Candace) (FL), and Ellen (David) (IN). Her legacy continues to grow with 20 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

A viewing (10am) and memorial service (11am) will be held Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at the church located at 325 Lauralin Drive, Logan, UT.