Marsha Leigh Christensen Naegle

If you are reading this it means I have started my next journey, after peacefully passing away April 30, 2024, at home with my sweetheart, and surrounded by my children.

I, Marsha Leigh Christensen Naegle, was born April 1, 1965, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.  I never enjoyed being an April Fools’ Day baby, but one does not choose their birthday.

I was the luckiest girl alive to be the daughter of Dennis William and Colleen Prince Christensen, and to have the best big sister and protector, Brenda (Stu) Christensen Smith.

My family moved to Bountiful, Utah, when I was a year old. I was always proud of my Canadian heritage as we would visit there often. Bountiful was a wonderful place to grow up. I had many friends through elementary to high school who helped influence the adult I would become.

After attending BYU and serving a mission to the Netherlands Amsterdam mission, I fell head-over-heels for the boy next door. I married the love of my life and best friend, Willard Frank Naegle, on August 21, 1987, in the Salt Lake City Temple. It was the best decision I ever made. We were then blessed with four amazing and incredible children who put the fun in our “dysFUNctional” family: Natali (Phil) Ruban, Nathan Willard (Natalie), Preston Dennis (McKell), and Andrew Wright (Emily). I enjoyed my time as their mother in their younger years at the many ball games, plays, school events, and together picking many peaches in the orchard.

I loved spending my time on road trips with Will, sewing getaways, St. George trips, playing pickleball, walking, reading, weekends in Bear Lake, backpacking trips to Europe, Lagoon with the grandkids and pool time. I loved serving in my faith community and made many dear friends as we served together.

As our kids married and our family grew to include one more son and three more daughters, we delighted in spending time together and loved seeing many parts of the world with each other. After having lots of fun and many adventures, the pure joy came when I became a Mimi. Will became Mo as the grandchildren started coming: Harper Ruth, age 5 (Nate & Natalie), Jasper Willard, age 4 & Audrey Colleen, age 3 (Natali & Phil), Hudson Dennis, age 3 & Beck Preston, age 1 (Preston & McKell), and Nellie Elizabeth, age 1, (Andrew & Emily), with two more babies on the way in August to Natali & Phil and Nate & Natalie.

These six darling, mischievous, full of energy grandkids have brought us more happiness than we could have ever imagined. I will miss them more than I can comprehend. But I am leaving them with faithful, devoted, and strong parents, and Mo, who I know will raise, love and protect them until we are reunited again.  

I have been so blessed with such an abundance of dear friends and family that have helped me become a better person and disciple of Christ. Thank you to my book club, my sewing friend, my walking girls, my pickleball stars, floral designing friends, our travel friends and the many others who have crossed my path and made my journey a better one. Also, a huge thank you to Dr. VanMeter, Jessica Carlisle, and their staff for their care. You went above and beyond in our fight of this ugly and aggressive cancer. Also, thank you to all the infusion nurses and staff at the IMC Cancer Center and the staff of Renew Hospice who took such great care of me.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 10, 2024, at the Bountiful 34th Ward, 540 North 1200 East, Bountiful, Utah. An evening viewing will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Russon Mortuary, 295 N. Main Street in Bountiful. A Friday morning viewing will take place from 9:00-10:15 a.m. at the church prior to services.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary Live Facebook page and on this obituary page. The live stream will begin 10-15 minutes prior to services and will be posted below.