Nov. 22, 1952 - Jun. 26, 2025
Date of Service: Jul. 7, 2025
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SUBLETT – Ann Louise Wagenaar Rigby, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and devoted disciple of Jesus Christ, peacefully passed away on June 26, 2025, at the age of 72. She lived a life marked by faith, service, joy, and a gentle kindness that touched everyone around her.
Ann was born November 22, 1952, in Chicago, Illinois, where her father was attending graduate school. Four years later, her family moved to St. Anthony Park in St. Paul, Minnesota. Her brother, John, was born a year later, and she relished the role of older sister. They lived in a three-generation family home on Fulham Street, where she lived a happy childhood full of great friends and memories. Ann kept busy with girl scouts, piano, dance, sewing, and even a short stint in synchronized swimming. She loved all the wonderful neighbors and friends she made there and kept in close contact with them throughout her life.
After attending Murray High School, Ann enrolled in Luther College and graduated with a degree in Elementary Education. Upon graduation, she and a friend took an ambitious backpacking trip through Europe, where she especially enjoyed exploring Norway and meeting relatives, as her grandparents had immigrated from there. Her adventurous spirit continued when she applied for a kindergarten teaching position in Malta, Idaho. The postcard photos that she had seen of the state may not have exactly matched the reality, but she felt a deep impression to accept the job and moved over 1,300 miles from home.
In Malta, Ann was set up on a blind date with Steven Rigby, who would later become her husband on October 21, 1978. They were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on March 25, 1986. The couple settled in nearby Sublett on the Rigby family farm, where Steve built their home. They welcomed their three kids, (Paul) Michael, (Kathryn) Katie, and Jenna here. On top of raising three children, she returned to teaching Kindergarten and loved helping kids in the community learn to read and write. Ann was known for creating engaging ways for her students to learn and spent tireless hours preparing fun activities, often late into the night. She retired from teaching both kindergarten and first grade after 33 years. She was a devoted educator who kept connected with her students and touched many lives over the years.
Ann was always looking towards new adventures and could often be found plotting the next family vacation. She loved traveling, kayaking, cooking, whitewater rafting, and gardening. She spent many wonderful days up at Sublett Reservoir fishing, boating, and going on four-wheeler rides.
Ann was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served a service mission with her husband in the bishop’s storehouse, among many other callings and assignments. She spent her retirement years traveling to one of her favorite places, Alaska, and cruising Hawaii and the Panama Canal. In between traveling, she delighted in the role of doting grandma to her grandkids. Her visits usually included a basket of overflowing games, toys, books and activities. The contents would entertain the children for hours as she played on the floor with them.
Ann is survived by her loving husband, Steven; her three children, Michael (Angela) Rigby, Katie (Brock) Anderson, and Jenna (Justin) Potter; and 12 grandchildren, Cadence, Brennan, EmmaRay, Adelynn, Josiah, Lydia (Rigby), Ava, Evan, Landon, Logan (Anderson), Eli, and Vivian (Potter); and her brother, John (Andrea) Wagenaar.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Raphael and Marvel (Bultrud) Wagenaar.
We’d like to express sincere appreciation to Ann’s doctors, caregivers, neighbors, family and friends who stayed connected and helped in various ways.
The funeral will be held at 12:00 Noon, Monday, July 7, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Raft River Ward, located at 2551 East 300 South, Declo, Idaho. Interment will follow at approximately 3:00 p.m. at the Sublett Cemetery.
A viewing will be held that morning, prior to the funeral. Family will be received from 9 until 10 a.m., after which, friends will be received from 10 until 11:45 a.m. at the church.
A live webcast of the Funeral Service will be available and maintained at the following link: https://youtu.be/5tumEb6Wci4.
