The two women - one from Morgan - had served alongside their husbands at a church-owned cattle ranch in St. Cloud, Fla., as part of a service mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

With their husbands assigned to other tasks, Alice A. Rust and Connie L. Spackman ventured north to the Orlando, Fla., LDS temple for the day.

Upon their return, the women turned left in front of an oncoming Toyota pickup and were hit broadside, according to an Orlando Sentinel report.

The missionaries - Rust, 63, of Morgan and Spackman, 66, of Thayne, Wyo. - died in the crash.

LDS spokesman Scott Trotter said the church is "deeply saddened" by the women's deaths and hopes the families will find solace during the holiday season.

"We pray that they will find peace and comfort in the promises of the Lord concerning those who give their lives in his service," Trotter said.

Mark Gilleland, an LDS stake president and spokesman for the Rust family, said family members are buoyed up by their faith. Funeral services are set for Thursday in Morgan.

They describe Rust as a longtime church servant who dreamed of fulfilling a mission. She attended missionary preparation classes weekly and could hardly wait to leave once her assignment arrived.

Gilleland said family members are certain that Rust, who had served six months, will reap the rewards of her service.

"Whenever you lose your life in the service of your fellow man, it is an indication of where your heart is at," Gilleland said. "I think Sister Rust will be in very wonderful place."

The Tribune could not reach a spokesman for the Spackman family.

As for Rust's husband, he will return home next week for the funeral. He is not expected to return to the mission field.

"His mission has been completed," Gilleland said.

jstettler@sltrib.com