Marlene Johnson

In Loving Memory of Marlene S. Johnson

Our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, Marlene S. Johnson, passed away on May 15, 2025. Born Gertrude Marlene Sorensen on March 29, 1936, to Edwin and Lorna Sorensen, she lived a life of quiet strength, determined independence, and deep devotion to her family and faith.

She married her eternal companion, Richard (Dick) Lyman Johnson, on April 20, 1956, in the Salt Lake Temple. Together they raised four children: Ritch (Janie), Phillip (Tammy), Lisa, and Amy, and her love expanded to embrace 9 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

When Dick passed away in February of 2011, Marlene remained in the home they built together and lived entirely on her own, not for a few years, but for over 14. Through winters, holidays, birthdays, and spring thaws, she managed her home, yard, and life with unshakable resolve. She didn’t ask anyone to step in, and she didn’t need to, she was strong, proud, and perfectly capable.

She was a woman of deep faith, a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and led her family with the kind of quiet example that leaves a lasting legacy. Her strength didn’t come from loud declarations, but from the way she lived: steady, thoughtful, and true.

She was a jack of all trades, and a master of them all. A proud member of Daughters of Utah Pioneers. A Master Gardener, her yard was her sanctuary, colorful, immaculate, and cared for with love and hundreds of hours of her time. You could always find her in her garden. She sewed clothing for her kids and grandkids with talent and precision, each stitch a labor of love. She could cook, clean, fix, plant, prune, and organize, all without fanfare. And if you tried to help? She’d likely let you know she could handle it herself and she usually did.

Marlene spent countless hours with her grandchildren, cooking and baking, camping and fishing, teaching skills, sharing stories, and simply being present. While she loved all her grandchildren dearly, she shared a particularly special bond with her two granddaughters, who were a constant source of joy to her.

She was stubborn in the best way, strong-willed, resilient, and unafraid to speak her mind. She loved deeply, gave generously, and showed up for the people in her life with loyalty and heart.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dick; her parents, Edwin and Lorna; and her two brothers, Bob and Jay. While we ache at the loss, we find peace knowing she is now reunited with those she’s missed for so long.

She leaves behind a legacy of strength, grace, and unconditional love, one that will live on in every garden tended, every handmade stitch, and every act of quiet resilience by those who knew her best.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at the Meadow Heights Ward chapel, 4310 South 3200 West, West Valley City, Utah where Marlene was a faithful member for over 65 years.

- Viewing: 9:30 AM to 10:45 AM

- Funeral Service: 11:00 AM

- Interment: 12:30 PM, Wasatch Lawn Memorial

3401 South Highland Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah

All who knew and loved Marlene are welcome to attend and celebrate her life - a life well- lived, a legacy well left.