Christine “Oma” Armbruster Spencer slipped away from this life in the o’dark hours of September 17, 2025. Christine was born to Mitzi Pfeiffer on October 16, 1944. She was a blond-haired, blue-eyed cutie. After a few years on their own, Christine helped her mom find her a dad, Joseph Armbruster. They were soon joined by a handful of kids: Henry, Helen, Joseph Jr., Robert, and Richard.
As soon as she turned 18, Christine was off on one adventure after another. She lived life to its fullest. She worked hard and played harder. After trying out several kinds of jobs—chicken farmer, telephone operator, dude rancher, waitress, among others—she decided to join the Army. She did that for a few years, and then got out and used her military benefits to get a “free education.” Going to BYU was one of the highlights of her life. She was a lifetime Cougar fan.
After she finished, she decided that civilian life wasn’t for her and reenlisted in the Army as an officer. While in the Army, she picked up a few dependents: her husband, Raleigh Spencer, and daughters Faline, Teralee, Shirah Jo, and Cheerie. She was recognized as the first woman warrant officer in the automotive field. After she got pregnant with Cheerie, she left the Army for good.
She returned to school and earned her teaching degree. She taught computers to all the students at Ramona Elementary in Hemet, California, for 16 years. When she retired in 2004, she moved to Cedar City, Utah, to be closer to her grandkids.
Her retirement years were spent watching all the grandkids play sports or be in plays, fulfilling church callings, going to the temple, teaching at least six grandkids how to drive, playing games, organizing cousin camp, spending time at the pool, and being “Oma” to everyone she met.
One month ago, after a fall, she found out that she had a fast-growing brain tumor. The doctors gave her 3–6 months. She had her own timeline. After she said goodbye to all of “her people,” she couldn’t wait to meet the Savior and passed one month to the day after her diagnosis.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Mitzi Armbruster; brothers Richard and Joseph Armbruster; and Raleigh Spencer Jr. She is survived by her daughters, Faline (Aaron) Cheney, Teralee Spencer, Jody (Jon) Groom, and Cheerie (Richard) Madsen; siblings Hank (Barbara) Armbruster, Helen Gleave, and Robert (Carrie) Armbruster; and her 17 grandkids.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Sept. 27, 2025, at 11 a.m. at the LDS Chapel, 1650 W. Center St., Cedar City, Utah 84720.