Lena Exilda Nielson Crabb of Spanish Fork, Utah, passed away early Sunday morning, December 5, 1999 in Orem, Utah at the age of 89.
Exilda was born February 14, 1910 in Monroe, Utah. She was of Danish heritage, the first of six children born to Charles and Loretta Gregersen Nielson. She has described her childhood and growing up years in the small southern Utah town of Monroe as "peaceful and happy." She graduated from South Sevier High School in 1928 and in July of the same year, at age 18, was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served in the Church and lived faithfully its teachings throughout her life.Exilda attended Snow College for one year then went to Brigham Young University where she majored in Speech and was elected to the National Honorary Dramatic Fraternity. After graduating in 1932 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, she taught school for three years in Monroe and Circleville, Utah. On March 2, 1934 in Junction, Utah, she married Lowell J. Crabb. They were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on January 14, 1948.
She and her husband lived in Payson and then Spanish Fork, Utah following Lowell's graduation from the California College of Mortuary Science in 1936. They became the parents of two daughters, Bonnie Lee and Loretta Renon; and a son, Kelly Charles.
Exilda was a remarkable woman of many talents and accomplishments. For many years she was active in the entertainment circles of her church and community, giving dramatic and humorous readings, writing scripts and poems, designing sets and costumes, performing in or directing many plays and productions. She had an avid interest in genealogical work and spent much of her life doing research, writing histories of her own ancestors and serving in the Church's Name Extraction Program. She was a charter member of the Thalian Club. She maintained a beautiful yard and flower garden and kept a lovely home where her own handwork and art pieces adorned each room.
After her husband's untimely death in 1956, Exilda taught school in the Nebo School District for nineteen years, retiring in 1975. She earned the degree
of Master of Education from Brigham Young University in 1966.
Exilda is survived by her three children: Bonnie Lee and her husband, Rex D. Pinegar, Salt Lake City; Renon and her husband, Gilbert Wheelock, Spanish Fork; and Kelly and his wife, Janice McClure, South Pasadena, California. She was an attentive and adoring grandmother of sixteen grandchildren: Kevin Pinegar, Lisa Pinegar Nelson, Suzanne Pinegar Wadsworth, Shelley Pinegar Peterson, Kristen Pinegar King, Amy Pinegar, Cory Wheelock, Tracy Wheelock, Jason Wheelock, Julie Wheelock Warren, Natalie Wheelock Jensen, Amanda Crabb, Sara Marie Crabb, Lowell C. Crabb, Christopher Crabb and Catherine Crabb. She has 24 great-grandchildren whom she loved very much. She is also survived by a loving sister and two brothers: Mildred Silva, R.G. Nielson, and Marius Nielson; and sister-in-law, Ruth, wife of Roger Nielson, who with a brother, Gary Nielson, preceded her in death.
She has left to her family a legacy of love and faith and testimony in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Her life has been one of exemplary service, sacrifice and strength. She is loved and remembered for her keen wit and intellect.
A funeral service will be held at 12 noon Friday, December 10, 1999 in the Spanish Fork Second Ward Chapel, 60 South Main Street. The family will
receive friends and relatives on Thursday evening, December 9, 1999 from 6-8 p.m. at Walker Mortuary, 187 South Main Street, Spanish Fork, and on Friday morning at the chapel from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Interment will be in the Spanish Fork City Cemetery.
Exilda's family wishes to express heartfelt thanks to the very kind and attentive staff members and caregivers at Orem Friendship Manor and Vista Hospice Care Foundation; and to the many friends, neighbors, ward members, loved ones, and her mail carrier who have all shown to her overwhelming love and support.