Ann Nicholls Madsen

1932 - 2022

1932 ~ 2022

Ann Nicholls Madsen was born 27 September 1932 to Barnard Johnson and Berenice Larsen Nicholls in Salt Lake City, Utah. The first to be born after years of waiting, Ann became their golden girl. Her beloved brother, Robert, arrived three years later.

Ann recently turned 90, "endured to the end," and passed away peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday, 26 October 2022.

She grew up attending Salt Lake City schools, living on Emerson Avenue and later on Laird Drive in a house her parents built in what had been a cherry orchard. She graduated from East High School and the University of Utah, where she met Truman Madsen. He had written an anonymous article entitled "To My Dream Girl" for a church magazine, and Ann told him on their first date that if she ever met the author she would marry him. Truman never told her until they became engaged.

They were married 16 June 1953 in the Salt Lake Temple. Truman had a jeweler inscribe in their wedding bands, "June 16, 1953 … then forever."

To their friends, their names became inseparable: "Ann and Tru." Truman once wrote, "When I hear people say that Latter-day Saints don't believe in divine grace, my heart answers: For any faithful Latter-day Saint man who has been married in the temple, the definition of divine, unmerited grace is, 'my wife.'"

In the first five years of their marriage, Ann and Tru were joined by two daughters and a son. After that Ann was unable to have children, but she continued to draw children (of all ages) into her circle of love for the rest of her life.

When her children were in high school she enrolled at BYU. After receiving her master's degree in ancient studies, she taught at BYU for forty-seven years, never missing a class until she was hospitalized during the last four class days of winter semester 2022 (this year).

Together, Ann and Tru went about doing good. They served together as mission leaders of the New England Mission from 1962 to 1965 (earlier this month Ann hosted the latest reunion of those missionaries online), taught together at BYU and at the BYU Jerusalem Center, conducted tours of the Holy Land, and traveled and spoke to groups around the world. Everywhere they went they made remarkable friends. For Ann, the next person she met was the most exciting thing yet.

She wrote poetry all her life. As a scholar she also authored many articles and talks. After living in Jerusalem, she wrote, "Making Their Own Peace: Twelve Women of Jerusalem," and in 2018 she co-authored with Shon Hopkin "Opening Isaiah: A Harmony." In 2021 she published a biography of her parents, "'...Then Forever': The Life Story of Berenice Larsen & Barnard Johnson Nicholls," and in the past few months she completed a chapter-by-chapter commentary on Isaiah for an online scripture service, and recorded (from her hospital room) a podcast on Isaiah.

She served in many callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including Young Women Advisor, Sunday School Teacher, and Stake Relief Society President. She also served on the Church Writing Committee and Sunday School General Board and as a lifelong missionary-at-large (distributing a half dozen copies of the Book of Mormon in recent months).

She is survived by her children, Emily Madsen Reynolds (Mark), Barnard Nicholls Madsen (Cindy), and Mindy Madsen Davis; 16 grandchildren; and 50 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Truman; son-in-law, J. Grant Davis; Navajo foster son, Larry Kee Watchman; and brother, Robert.

The family wishes to thank the following for their patience, dedication, and love: Zach and Cambry Bons, Logan and Abby Ostergaard, Diedre Green, David and Lauren Wadley, the management, caregivers, and residents at Aspen Ridge Rehabilitation Hospital, Utah Valley Hospital, Cascades at Orchard Park Acute Care and Rehabilitation Hospital, and Courtyard at Jamestown Assisted Living. Each of these people served an important role in helping Ann endure with grace to the end.

Friends may call on Friday, 18 November 2022, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Nelson Family Mortuary, 4780 N. University Avenue in Provo, Utah. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, 19 November 2022, at 11 a.m. at Sharon East Stake Center, 2400 N. 1060 E., in Provo, with visitation before the funeral from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Interment will follow at Salt Lake City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, friends who desire may make a donation to the Humanitarian or Missionary Fund of the Church in her memory.