Rulon Nephi Smithson passed away peacefully in his sleep at home surrounded by his loved ones on March 7, 2022, one day shy of his 95th birthday. He was born March 8, 1927 in Neola, Utah to Viola & Nephi Smithson. He was 3rd of 11 siblings, whom he loved. In 1945 he joined the Navy at age 17, serving at Pearl Harbor and remained there ’til the end of WWII. He then attended BYU before heading off for an LDS mission to France from 1950-52. Afterward he remained in Europe studying abroad in London, Paris and Heidelberg Germany where he met his future wife, Lonnie Rae Cooke, who was also serving an LDS mission. They married in 1955 in the Salt Lake City LDS temple and began their lives together in Provo. He graduated from BYU with both Bachelors and Masters Degrees. In 1957 they moved to New York City where he completed his Doctorate of French at Columbia University. Returning to Provo in 1961, he taught at BYU until 1970. He finished his teaching career at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois teaching French for 26 years. In 1981 he was called as the first Nauvoo Stake Patriarch after it became the 1000th Stake. Upon retiring, he and Lonnie Rae settled down in Pleasant Grove, Utah. He is survived by their children Val David Smithson, Randall Smithson(Lisa), Tamara Smithson, Sarah Artaza(Guillermo), Stephanie Smithson, Stacie Tahy(Anthony) and Amy Smithson. He has 12 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. He loved the Lord Jesus Christ and prayed without ceasing. His kindness and generous heart will be missed deeply. Funeral details found at www.olpinmortuary.com