Ross Andra

Ross Leslie Andra

December 2, 1936 - June 20, 2024

Ross Leslie Andra, age 87, returned to his Father in Heaven on June 20, 2024. He passed with dignity and peacefully in his Salt Lake City home with his wife, Adelaide; daughter, Brenda; and son, Carlos at his side.

Ross was born on December 2, 1936, in Preston, Idaho to German immigrant, William Fredrick Andra and Mary Louise Wanner. He grew up on a large family farm with four sisters and seven brothers.

Ross graduated from Preston High School in 1955 and then went on to attend Utah State Agriculture College (USU) for two years.

Ross worked in construction with a couple of his brothers on the St. Lawrence Seaway Project in Massena, New York between February-December 1957. He served on a mission to Brazil for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1957-1959, where he met his sweetheart Adelaide Gonzalez Carrenho. They married in the Logan Temple on June 14, 1963. Ross had a deep love for Brazil, its people and culture; and especially for his little Brazilian bride.

After his mission to Brazil, Ross attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah where he studied Political Science, Speech Education, and Portuguese. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from BYU in 1964 and remained one of their biggest fans right up to the end; watching games and sporting a BYU ball cap everywhere he went.

Ross instilled a strong work ethic into his children. As a servant leader, Ross served his family by example, and by teaching his kids how to help mom with household tasks. He modeled Ephesians 5:25 (NKJ) well: "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for her." Ross always made sure everyone was comfortable and had what they needed.

Ross loved to make people laugh, and he had a keen gift for engaging strangers with quick-witted quips. He spread many smiles and laughter across the planet.

Ross was a hard worker and his career life spanned over various areas from high school teacher, coach, candy man, small business owner, appliance installer, furniture mover, to medical courier. He held unique skills and talents and applied them well throughout his life in service to others. He maintained a missionary mindset through his whole career.

As candy man, Ross would fill the vending machines in the teachers' lounge at his eldest daughter's elementary school. Often, he would show up during recess and pass out candy on the playground, which made his daughter, Brenda, quite popular with her friends.

As a business owner, Ross often took his son, Carlos, to work with him to deliver and install appliances and move furniture. As a result, Carlos learned to efficiently pack a moving truck like a Tetris puzzle.

Ross LOVED tomatoes and would plant them anywhere he could find a plot of dirt. His youngest daughter, Denise worked hard to clear space in the backyard for a family garden, and Ross could have his tomatoes. At another point in life, when Denise found herself facing some debts, Ross sat down with her and taught her some financial principles, which she applied and was able to persevere in paying off all her debts in no time at all.

Ross was a faithful servant. With Adelaide as his companion, Ross served locally as a service missionary with the Portuguese and Spanish speaking wards between 2009-2015. Together they drove all around Salt Lake Valley visiting with families and making sure they had the resources they needed. Ross and Adelaide had a deep desire to return to an overseas mission in Brazil, but due to health concerns they could not go. Instead, they fulfilled that desire by serving the Brazilian people locally.

In his later years (until age 84) Ross delivered blood and vital organs to various medical locations spanning Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming. And as always, he made people laugh along the way.

We kids heard many stories from dad about growing up on the family farm; like the time he was called back to the house by his mom, only to discover on his way it was a chicken calling out, "RAWSSSS"! Or the time when Ross and his brothers tied a cow to their math teacher's front door. With multiple brothers, you can imagine the many pranks that were played on (and with) each other.

Dad, we miss your John Wayne toughness, Popeye strength, and cheesy dad jokes. You were a missionary for Christ Jesus until the end. "Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of the lord." ~Matthew 25:21 (KJV). Ross has now entered the joy of HIS Lord.

Nós te amamos, paizinho! We love you, daddy!

Ross is survived by his wife, Adelaide; daughter, Brenda (Layton) Wagner; son, Carlos (Melanie) Andra; daughter, Denise Andra; grandson Brandon (Danika) Porter; granddaughter, Onyx Andra; great-grandchildren Tilia, Zeke and Sevi Porter; and his brother, Larry (Barbara) Andra. Ross is preceded in death by his parents and 10 siblings.

Funeral services are as follows:

Viewing at McDougal Funeral Home (4330 South Redwood Road) Friday, June 28, 2024, from 6-8 PM. Another viewing on Saturday, June 29, 2024, from 10:00-10:45 AM at the Salt Lake City Cannon 9th Ward (1250 W 1400 S, Salt Lake City, Utah) with funeral services to follow at 11 AM. Interment - Valley View Memorial Park.

Arrangements under the direction of McDougal Funeral Home.

For those who wish to LiveStream the service, you may do so at the following link:  https://www.youtube.com/live/y1qDOIbls5Q?si=BKB2vMv8aWn_IF_4