Early in the morning of May 12, 2026, Rosalie Bignall Ferguson slipped from this life to return home to Heavenly Father and her husband, Bryant Ferguson, to move forward in the next chapter of their eternal journey.

Rosalie was born May 26, 1934, to Bliss and Reva Bignall in Grace, Idaho. The family moved to Heber City, UT when she was almost 2, and remained while growing up. She worked in the family pharmacy store (Bliss Pharmacy) and truly enjoyed working behind the soda fountain after school and weekends, due to the crazy soda drink experiments with her sister. While her older brothers were off serving in WWII, Rosalie helped tend the family’s “Victory Garden.” She participated in the local 4H chapter, competing in pies, bread, sewing, and quilts. Several of her quilts won blue ribbons in the Utah State Fair. She had a love for music and took piano and organ lessons on Temple Square in Salt Lake City for several years. During high school she played the clarinet in the Wasatch High School band in Heber.

She graduated from BYU in Provo, UT ready to face the world as a schoolteacher. After a few years of teaching in Sandy and West Jordan, UT, a young Marine veteran home from WWII and Korea, caught her attention on a blind date. On Aug 20, 1962, they were married in Heber City, UT and moved to a small desert town “for just a couple years, 3 years at the most,” called China Lake, CA. There she taught school for several years (China Lake School District) before being blessed with 4 children (Buddy, Bruce, Melanie and April). She later returned to teaching as the children grew, substituting around the Sierra Sands Unified School District. After two years as a long term substitute at Richmond Elementary and then at Burroughs High School, where she served as the Junior Class Advisor (1984-85), Rosalie returned to full time teaching in the mid-80’s at Las Flores Elementary teaching 2nd and 4th grades over the rest of her career. She retired from Las Flores but remained a teacher for the rest of her life. Rosalie loved teaching and watching the students grow and learn. They were “her” kids even long after they left her classroom.

As a young couple at China Lake, Rosalie and Bryant stayed active, exploring the mountains around them, camping, hiking and dancing with the Cactus Squares Square Dance group as they traveled around Southern California. She loved to dance, especially with Bryant by her side.

Growing up, Rosalie developed a deep love for service and continued that throughout her life. She loved the gospel of Jesus Christ and treasured being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She raised her children to serve alongside her, helping those in need. She enjoyed the opportunities to serve in Primary (children between 18 months to 12 years old), the library, Young Women’s (young ladies between 12-18 years old) and Relief Society (women’s organization), making many friends along the way. If someone needed a meal or kids watched, she was there with a meal, a helping hand and a smile to cheer. Rosalie and Bryant could always be found on the sidelines for their kid’s sporting events, being involved with Burroughs High School Band Boosters and music programs, setting up for games and on the parade route, cheering all 4 of the kids in the band and all the extras that called them “Mom & Dad.” While raising her family, Rosalie enjoyed teaching her children the love of music, reading, cooking, sewing, crocheting, doing good and having a happy heart. She welcomed many “extra” kids along the way, (friends of her kids) who came over just to hang out, stay for dinner, or be part of the crazy after game parties.

When Bryant retired from Federal Service at China Lake Naval Weapons Station and she from teaching, they enjoyed serving together in the Los Angeles Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints until Bryant's passing in 2000. She continued to serve in the Temple for a few more years, driving to LA with friends.

“3 years” expanded to almost 64 years of being in the little desert town of Ridgecrest, CA. She loved the mountain views of the Sierra Nevadas, even though they weren’t the Wasatch Mountains. She loved the quiet peaceful life in Ridgecrest even though it wasn’t green and didn’t have winter snow like her Heber Valley. Despite the heat, and lack of summer green and winter snows, Ridgecrest was home. Her body will return to her beloved Heber City, UT, to be laid to rest.

Rosalie is preceded in death by her parents, Bliss O. Bignall, Anie Reva Yeates, brothers Bliss O. Bignall II (Annette), Olin Y. Bignall (Joyce), sister Monica Kohler (Alva), grandson Bryant Charles Ferguson and her husband Bryant Cotton Ferguson. She is survived by her brother Fredrick M. Bignall (Alma – deceased), and her four children: Bryant (Buddy) Ferguson (Tiffany) of Hendersonville, TN, Bruce Ferguson of Bakersfield, CA, Melanie Bunce (Brian) of Ridgecrest, CA, April Smith (Hansford) of Orcutt, CA, 13 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Her family was always her greatest blessing, and she held fast to the gospel of Jesus Christ and knowing that she was sealed to her sweetheart for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. She felt blessed to have a loving family and many friends to share her life with throughout the journey.

If you knew Rosalie and were part of her journey in this life, thank you for your friendship, your kindness, your service, your smiles and hugs you continued to give her throughout her life. You made a difference.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 13, 2026, at 10 am at the North Norma bldg. of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 501 N. Norma, Ridgecrest, CA. Burial will be at the Heber Valley Cemetery, Heber City, UT, 10 am Monday, June 15, 2026.