Jeri Banner

Jeri Dene Patterson Banner
September 28, 1927 – January 19, 2026

Jeri was born on September 28, 1927, in Slaterville, Utah, to Leonard and Elda Patterson. She grew up in a fun filled, humble home with her older brother (Lloyd) and three younger siblings (Verla, Bernice and Gaylin). Her brothers and sisters were her closest companions in childhood, and their deep bond lasted throughout their lives.

“This is the best life I’ve ever had.” Those words were not merely a motto for Jeri—they were the lens through which she lived her life. She believed deeply in the goodness of life, even in its toughest challenges, and met each day with gratitude, faith, and joy, always walking forward with unwavering confidence in God’s promises. As children, we were never allowed to sit and dwell on our problems. If you were hurt, she would tell us “say ow and go on”. She also felt and taught, if you were blessed in some way, then use those blessings to make someone’s life better.

She was an accomplished artist who taught lessons, a gifted seamstress, a poet and a storyteller of rare ability. Her stories were so vivid and sometimes layered that even those who had lived them needed a moment to recognize themselves within the story. She had a keen and active mind, memorizing and sharing stories, poems, readings, and delighting family and friends with these expressive and joyful renditions throughout her life.

Music was another of her many talents. She possessed a beautiful alto voice and sang in a sextet, multiple choirs and productions, bringing warmth and harmony wherever she performed. Later in life, while spending winters in St. George, she participated in “Hee Haw”, always arriving with a “special joke” prepared for her part—her humor and timing never failed.

She loved her gardens and took pride in them, carefully assigning each child a portion to tend. She never hesitated to gently remind us when something needed more attention.

Jeri married Samuel Harvey Banner on Sept. 10, 1947, in the Idaho Falls, ID temple. Dad left on his 2-year mission soon after their wedding and she was thus tasked with the responsibility to work to support both of them—an early and defining act of faith and partnership. Throughout their marriage, she and dad moved more than 30 times, embracing each new place as another chapter in a life of service and adventure. During seasons when finances were tight, she quietly did whatever was needed to help provide—even taking shifts on a potato truck or working at the Birdseye production plant. She never framed these efforts as burdensome, but simply as love in action.

She enjoyed a life of service in all auxiliaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In her and Sam’s retirement years they served five missions together, always determined to stay busy and useful. She was a great support to her husband but also sought to make a difference in the individual lives she worked with teaching computer and other life skills. She also made the effort to learn Spanish so she could teach English as a second language.

She had a personal relationship with the Savior and recognized daily miracles—large and small—and seemed to have divine help whenever it was needed. We used to seriously joke that she had enough faith that she could pray “to change the weather” if you gave her enough notice. Even in her final days, her well-read scriptures remained by her bedside, a quiet witness of her love for the scriptures.

Jeri recognized the divine worth in others as well. She overcame fear and the prejudices of the world, opening her heart to everyone she met—especially those who felt unreachable or overlooked. This ability, to see people as God sees them, became one of her greatest gifts and is a legacy she worked hard to pass on to her children.

Her family includes seven children LaNae (Kenneth Higgins) (Riverton, UT); Kim (Dennis Briggs) (Teton, ID); Jill (Richard Crowther) (Brigham City, UT), Konel (Jan Banner) (Ogden, UT); Todd (Susan Banner) (South Weber, UT); Kalyn (Gary Thompson) (Brigham City, UT); Kenton Banner (Deceased). She was known and loved as “Gammy” to 28 grandchildren, 61 great-grandchildren, 10 great-great-grandchildren. We rejoice in the knowledge that families are eternal and that she now rests in the presence of the Savior she loved so dearly and will now busy herself helping prepare for the day each of us will join her. As she passed into the next life, she was surely welcomed by her eternal companion (Samuel Banner), her son (Kenton Banner), three siblings (Lloyd Patterson), (Verla Olsen), (Bernice Tegan), three grandchildren (Heath Briggs), (Travis Crowther), (Landon Thompson), a great-grandson (Liam Asher Higgins), and countless ancestors and friends who have gone before her.

Her life motto, “This is the best life I’ve ever had.” Because of who she was and how she lived—it truly was.

The family extends special thanks to the compassionate staff at Renew Home Care and Hospice for their loving and devoted care.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to
Builders Without Borders of Utah builderswithoutbordersofutah.org

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Brigham City 21st Ward, 865 South 300 West, Brigham City, Utah. A viewing will be held prior to the service from 11:00 – 12:30 p.m. also at the church. Interment will be at the Brigham City Cemetery.

The funeral service will be livestreamed, please use the link below to view the service
https://MyersMortuary.livecontrol.tv/36239335

Services entrusted to Bigham City Myers Mortuary.