Thelma "Peggy" Rose Mohler

Thelma Rose “Peggy” Sparrow Mohler returned to the arms of her loving parents and beloved daughter on Saturday November 5, 2022 with her loving husband of 70 years by her side. She lived an extraordinary life, leaving a legacy of strength and love behind.

Thelma known to her family and close friends as Peggy, was born March 7, 1931 to Ferris Vern Sparrow and Wyke “Violet” Fiet in Ogden Utah. She was raised in the Ogden area where she graduated from Weber High School and attended Ogden Business College. She was an amazing roller skater, winning the Utah State Championship medal in pairs skate.

Peggy married Leland Edgar Mohler after forming a special bond while competing in couples roller skating. They were married at the Berthana Ballroom on roller skates. Later their marriage was solemnized in the Ogden Temple. Their cherished daughter, Peggy Lee was born several years later, remained at their side through many of their adventures. Together they lived a life of service to their country and traveled all over the world. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in September with their grandchildren and great grandchildren by their side.

Peggy began her career selling shoes and rolling coins at Kress’ Department Store. This may be the beginning of a love for collecting coins and rolling coins. Peggy and Lee spent the first few years of their marriage in Las Vegas while Lee was stationed at Nellis Air Force Base. This became their stomping ground, returning to Henderson NV, where they have lived for the last 25 years.

Peggy served a one year PCS tour in Saigon, Vietnam with her husband teaching the Vietnamese how to use their computers. She refused to leave Vietnam until her husband had orders to leave, finally returning on one of the very last transports out of Saigon. She retired from Hill Air Force Base with 32 years of service as a computer specialist. She served as President of the Utah Chapter of the Air Force Association, named the Utah Woman of the Year, as well as past President of the Ben Lomond Chapter of the American Business Woman’s Association which she served with both her mother and daughter. Peggy was an important member of the accounting department that formed what is known today as America First Credit Union, working on her own time after hours at Union Station in downtown Ogden. At the time one of few female executives advocating for equal pay and deserved promotions for her and women to follow.

Peggy and Lee spent years traveling the US, Europe, China, Mexico, Thailand, Japan and their beloved Vietnam. Together they served as members of the Saigon Mission Association, where they built lifelong friendships, traveling each year for the reunion. In 2017, they had the honor of laying a wreath at the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C. to memorialize their friends and colleagues who lost their lives during Operation Babylift. As grandchildren we learned to love the Vietnamese, Japanese, and Chinese cultures through their stories, gifts they brought home and thousands of pictures that filled the albums on their shelves.

Peggy was a lifelong member of the LDS church, serving in many capacities throughout her life. Her compassion for others showed through when she found starving Vietnamese digging through her garbage for food, she would place full meals in the trash for them to share.

Peggy was always up for an adventure and the fun that came along with it. She spent several years traveling with both her husband and her mother which were some of her most precious memories. She spent 30 years go-kart racing along side her husband, where she would race, officiate, and score the races. She taught her daughter and granddaughter how to race fearlessly, a treasured memory. She was extremely talented learning how to embroider at a very young age, there was not a towel or pillow that did not have her signature designs. She loved to sew, designing and sewing her custom wedding dress. Later in life she found a love of toll painting, spending many hours with her daughter creating works of art that fill her home today.

The last few years were spent with her loving husband, caring for her. He devoted his life to keeping her home with him. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren visited often over the last several years sharing in her wisdom and making lasting memories.

Peggy is preceded in death by her beloved daughter Peggy Lee and son-in-law Warren Evans, brothers James Vernon Sparrow, Dean Sparrow and Walter Sparrow, brother-in-law Cecil Earnest Mohler Jr, sister-in-law Virginia Pearl Mohler, life long friends Hiroki and Shizue Marumoto, as well as her mother and father.

Peggy is survived by her husband Leland, grandson R. Blaine Whittle, granddaughter Jennie Lee (Daniel) Fry, and granddaughter Krystal Hughes as well as 7 great grandchildren.

A visitation for Thelma will be held Saturday, November 12, 2022 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Palm Boulder Highway Mortuary, 800 South Boulder Highway, Henderson, NV 89015.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmboulderhighway.com for the Mohler family.