Elizabeth Folkman Wahlquist Obituary
Elizabeth Folkman Wahlquist was born to Ruth Folkman and Keith Campbell Wahlquist on the 28th February 1933 in the big old Queen Anne-style house on 25th Street in Ogden, Utah. She was the first girl in her family, and the only girl among her cousins for the next eleven years (there would be eventually 18 male cousins and two female cousins). In Elizabeth's immediate family were six boys: four older than Elizabeth and two younger. Later Heinz Christiansen joined the family as a sort of adopted brother, and his family was very important to Elizabeth. Elizabeth was most definitely in charge of the family from an early age until her death, which leaves a huge hole in our lives.
Elizabeth grew up in Ogden and graduated from Ogden High School in 1951. She attended Weber College and received a B.A. in English from Brigham Young University. She earned a Master of Arts degree from Middlebury College in Vermont, and later she earned an M.Litt. degree. She attended a year of classes in London, England. She began her career teaching at Murray High School in Utah, and then she taught at Brigham Young University in the English Department. She taught a total of 55 years: 8 at Murray and 47 at BYU. She was much beloved by her students.
An active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elizabeth's favorite church service was visiting teaching or ministering to her sisters in the gospel. Elizabeth leaves her brother Andy and his wife; two of her sisters-in-law; 15 nieces and nephews and their families; and the widow and four children of Heinz Christiansen and their families. She was predeceased by her parents, her brothers Max, Grant, Frank, Joe, and Keith; her nephews Tom and Keith; her niece Patty; and Heinz Christiansen and his first wife, Kathleen.
Elizabeth died Thursday, February 22, 2024 and was buried privately on February 26, 2024 at Wasatch Lawn Cemetery in Salt Lake City, Utah. A memorial service will be held at 12:00 noon, Saturday, March 23, 2024 at the Edgemont 10th Ward Chapel, 345 East 4525 North, Provo, Utah, with visiting starting at 11:00 a.m.
