Jonna L. Stephenson

Jonna L. Stephenson, born July 8 1941, in Wallace, Idaho, passed away peacefully on August 16, 2003 at Plaza Healthcare in Scottsdale, Arizona after a short illness. Jonna was a wonderful wife, mother and a very caring person. She will be missed greatly by her family, friends and neighbors. Jonna married Gordon Stephenson in Silver Springs, Maryland in 1968 and they enjoyed nearly 36 years together. Jonna and Gordon returned to Boise, Idaho after spending a year in the Washington DC area where Jonna worked for the Treasurery Department. They enjoyed the history of the East and the activity in Washington but were anxious to return to the west where they first met on the ski slopes in Boise. Jonna graduated from Boise State University with a degree in Economics and a minor in Math and was employed by Ore-Ida Foods in the Logistics Department for 13 years. She and Gordon moved to Scottsdale in 1985 to start new careers. Jonna always had a hobby of interior design and actually had a small interior design business for several years in Scottsdale. She used her own home as a design show place and created a wonderful place for friends and relatives to visit and party. Jonna loved to entertain and was an avid duplicate bridge player. Her husband, Gordon and her son Gregg who resides in Heerde, Netherlands with his wife, Andrea, survive Jonna. She is also survived by her mother, Virginia Otto and sister, Linda Knudsen from Boise, Idaho; brother, Steve Kingsbury of Scottsdale and niece, Amber Kingsbury, US Army, Amy Knudsen in Boise and nephew, Rob Knudsen of Boise. Her father, John Kingsbury preceded her in death. Jonna was a very out going and gracious person. She had many friends and was
especially interested in young people and friends of her son. They always found her house a home to visit and an ear for listening. Not unusual to hear several of these young persons refer to Jonna as "Mom." She and Gordon always had the door open for these young people even after their son Gregg took employment in Europe. She loved them, cared for them and listened if they just wanted to talk. She will be deeply missed by all. A graveside service will be held at 9:30 am Friday, August 22 at Paradise Memorial Gardens, 9300 E. Shea Blvd, Scottsdale and a Memorial Service will be 2:30 pm Saturday, August 23 at Messinger Mortuary Chapel, 7601 E. Indian School Road,
Scottsdale. Jonna's family requests donations to Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Attn: Development Dept., 1400 I Street, Suite 1200, Washington, DC 20005.