Verda Cloe Nelson Jensen "Always and Forever"
Verda Cloe Nelson Jensen (85) passed away peacefully in her home on Friday, July 15, 2011. She was born on June 23, 1926 as the fifth of seven children to John Alexander Nelson and Vera Wilcox Nelson in Cascade, Montana. The family moved to Great Falls, Montana, where Verda graduated from school on D-day, June 6, 1944. Verda attended Utah State Agricultural College in Logan, Utah for one year. She met her sweetheart Leon James Jensen on a blind date to a Stake Gold and Green Ball. He had recently returned from three 1/2 years in the U.S. Air Force in the Central Pacific during World War II. They were married in the Cardston Alberta Temple on July 31, 1946 and celebrated 61 years together before Leon's passing in 2007. Verda and Leon are survived by their children: Carol Lasson (Richard), Lana Jardine (Stan), Julie Larsen (Robert), Leon James, Jr. "Jim" Jensen (Sandy), Joyce Morgan (Jim), and David John Jensen (fiancee-Tracy Thomas). They have 24 grandchildren and 47 great grandchildren. After Verda's children started school, she attended the University of Utah and in 1969 at age 43, she graduated with a B. S. degree from the U of U. For 19 years, she loved teaching at Rosecrest Elementary School in Granite District. She retired in 1988. Verda was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served in many callings including: Relief Society President in Mt. Olympus 7th Ward and again at age 72 in the Draper 2nd Ward, Draper, Utah, two service missions--one to the LDS Church Museum and another as a genealogist in the Genealogy Library, and as an ordinance worker in the Draper LDS Temple. She wrote three family history books: Heritage and Histories of John Alexander Nelson, Jr. and Vera Wilcox Nelson, Heritage and Histories of Victor James and Alice James Jensen, and Memories of Leon and Verda Jensen. She traveled the world with Leon, visiting: Russia, China, Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand, etc. and later with her children to China and Mongolia. Her favorites were Hawaii and Mongolia. She was a member of the Utah Retired School Employees Association, on the Board of Draper City's Visual Arts Foundation, and a member of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Douglas Camp. Verda loved entertaining her family and friends both in her home and in the family cabin in Big Cottonwood Canyon. She loved serving friends and family and unconditionally loved everyone. She was one of the noble and great-a choice daughter of her Father in Heaven. Her treasures were her family, her friends, and her testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. She was preceded in death by her parents, her dear husband Leon, and by siblings--Lovell Nelson, Bruce Nelson (Ruth), Lee Nelson, Joyce McMaster (Earl) and daughter-in-law Lorrie Jensen. Survived by sister Ruth Miller (Ivan), brother Robert Nelson (Missy), sisters-in-law Margaret Nelson and Vicky Nelson. Thank you to Dr. R. Dirk Noyes and the Millcreek Hospice Center--especially Christie and Juan. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at 12:00 noon at the Draper 2nd Ward, 1617 E. 12700 S. Draper, UT. Viewings will be held on Tuesday, July 19, 2011 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Larkin Sunset Gardens Mortuary, 1950 East 10600 South, Sandy, UT and from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. before the funeral at Draper 2nd Ward. Please share a memory of Verda at www.larkincares.com.