Janene Nielson

Janene Nielson

Richfield, Utah

On August 7, 2020, our precious wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend Janene L. Nielson returned to her Heavenly Father while holding hands with her sweetheart Bruce, at her home in Richfield.

Mom was born in Gunnison, Utah on April 7 , 1941 to George and Uneta Stocks Last. She was the youngest of five siblings. She learned the value of hard work from helping her father at the Christensen’s store that he owned in Gunnison. She was envied by her classmates for wearing fancy clothes from her daddy’s store. Little did they know Mom only got to pick her clothes after they went on double clearance and nobody else wanted them. Her mother taught her how to be a wonderful homemaker by teaching her how to can, cook and sew.

Mom was faced with many health challenges that started at a very young age. At the age of seven she was in bed for almost a year with rheumatic fever. She developed heart problems due to the fever that followed her the rest of her life. A few years later her appendix ruptured, which nearly took her life. Her father, with no medical experience, administered ether to put her to sleep for her operation. Mom remembers looking down on her body during the surgery. Later on, at the age of 17 she developed spinal meningitis. Due to her many illnesses she learned empathy, compassion and to always have a good attitude no matter what she was going through. She also learned to be exceptionally patient and kind, which came in handy with both of her husbands and all of her children.

After high school Mom was working at the Grand Canyon as a hostess where she met our father Boyd. They quickly fell in love and married in the Salt Lake Temple on December 28, 1959. His police career took them on quite the journey, and Mom happily supported him in everything he did. They were blessed with 4 beautiful children: Donna, Shelly, Brent and Holly.

Mom was blessed with many talents. She was involved in school plays, ward choirs, was part of a double trio called Sweet Harmony, sang with her talented sister Gwen, sang solos in church and participated in the Field of Stars. We will miss hearing her beautiful voice or watching musicals with her while she would sing along.

She was a gifted seamstress who created beautiful blessing outfits, prom dresses and our favorite minky blankets. We are so thankful to have those blankets so we can still be snuggled in her love.

After our father passed away on January 2, 2002, she married Bruce Nielson on April 20th, of the same year in the Manti Temple. Their life together is a true love story. In 2007 they served as missionaries at the Church Headquarters Family History Mission in Salt Lake City. While serving their mission they worked countless hours trying to figure out how a computer works, how to get around a big city and how to live in a small apartment.

After their mission they enjoyed many adventures together, including: going to their cabin, trips to Alaska and going to the temple regularly. We will forever be grateful for the love and kindness Bruce showed towards mom and to all of us. She loved her Brucee with all of her heart.

We are also grateful for the loving, kind, supportive Christ-like mother we had. The day before she passed the stake president and bishop came over for an interview because Mom wanted to have a current temple recommend when she returned home to her Heavenly Father. We will be forever grateful for her Christ-like example, and love she had for her Savior.

We would like to express our gratitude to the Richfield Dialysis Center, Dr. Brown and his staff, the hospice nurses and support staff who offered Mom so much love and support.

Mom is survived by her loving husband Bruce. She is also survived by her 6

children: Donna (Bradly) Duffin, Central; Shelly (Kennley) Savage, Mona; Brent

(Nancy) Ward, Pueblo; Holly (Brett) Packer, Riverton, Tina (Donny) Somers,

Richfield; Eric (Meagan) Nielson, West Jordan; sister, Gwenivere (Raymond) Jones. Between Mom and Bruce they were blessed with 21 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren.

She was proceeded in death by her parents; husband, Boyd Ward; brothers Hal, Garth and Ron Last; grandson, Garrett Nielson; and great-granddaughter, Grace Baum.

Private family funeral services will be held Friday, August 14, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. in the Magleby Mortuary Chapel where friends may call Thursday evening from 6:00-7:00 p.m and Friday from 9-10:30 am. The family requests all attendees to wear masks . Burial will be in the Richfield City Cemetery. Live streaming of funeral services and online guestbook can be found at www.maglebymortuary.com under Janene’s obituary. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti.