Norma Nelson Jenson

On January 15, a sunny crisp morning, heaven welcomed a true angel, as Norma Nelson Jenson was twinkled from her mortal journey here on Earth.

Mom was born July 8, 1933 in College Ward, Utah to Norman Nelson and Elizabeth Christina Datwyler Nelson, the 6th of nine children. She was named after her father.  She spent her early years in Howell, Utah where her family dry farmed before moving to College Ward, Utah when she was 12 years old. She learned the value of hard work from those years, along with many other traits that defined her life.

Mom learned to play baseball from her father, who had been a semi-pro baseball player, and she loved playing 2nd base on the boys baseball team.  She later played as a fast-pitch pitcher with the Johnson Concrete Ready Mix team and won a state championship.

She graduated from South Cache High School and seminary, and immediately went to work as a seamstress for Mode O’ Day dress factory for six and a half years. Coupled with her mother's expertise (who also worked at Mode O’ Day), Mom was an expert pattern-maker and seamstress, and sewed dresses and shirts for people throughout her life.

Mom loved music and sang duets with her mother at many funerals and rest homes. She continued to sing duets with her mother in church for much of her adult life.

Mom married Eldon Milford Jenson on July 2, 1953, in the Logan, Utah LDS temple, and just a short time later, Eldon was deployed to the Korean War for 3 years.  Mom held down the fort at home, where she saved enough money to buy their first car, a beautiful blue Ford. 

She began what would become a 52-year Halloween tradition, making dozens of spudnuts for visitors every Halloween. She would welcome them into her home to visit and to eat a glazed or sugar spudnut (or two!). 

Mom later went to work at the Wellsville Elementary School, as a teacher’s aide and reading specialist. She worked for many years until her retirement, helping children read.  She left such an impression upon those she helped that some came to her years later to thank her for making such a difference in their life.

Her life was about service, and she humbly took on and performed many church callings, including serving as YWMIA teacher, Logan Stake Missionary, Primary President, Service and Activities co-chair (with her husband Eldon), Relief Society President, Chorister, choir director, and many other callings in between.

She loved cake decorating and growing flowers and vegetables that she then bottled. 

After retirement, Mom never slowed down. She square danced, oil painted, crocheted, and donated dozens of blankets and hundreds of knit hats to those in need. She attended classes and graduated from the Utah State University LDS Institute of Religion in April of 2001. And at 79 years young, Mom kept busy, indexing entries for FamilySearch for four years, and surpassed more than a million indexed entries.

Mom and Dad spent more than 23 years as temple officiators, making friends for life among the many fellow temple workers and patrons. Mom's warm greetings and genuine concern for all left a lasting impression on many.

She loved to travel and she loved to learn, and she loved to save money. But she wasn’t afraid to splurge on many fun family trips. One of the biggest highlights of her life was getting to visit Israel, and she also visited England with her sisters and provided a memorable family trip to Hawaii.

Above all, Mom cherished and loved her children and family, devoting her life to what she always wished to be: a good Mom.  

Mom is reunited with her parents and seven siblings, and is survived by her husband of 70 years, Eldon Milford Jenson, her Sister Arva Jost, her children Jana Lee Buck (David), Eldon Milford Jenson Jr (Amy), Jill Annette Fetty (Charles), nine grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and many others who call her grandma.

She will be missed immensely by all who knew her.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the LDS Humanitarian Aide Fund or to the Cache Valley Food Pantry or a food bank of your choice.  Both of these institutions were very important to mom.

Norma's funeral service will be held on Friday, January 19, 2024, at 12:00 pm at the College Ward LDS Chapel, 2394 W 2200 S, College Ward, Utah.  A public viewing will be held before the service from 10:00 to 11:30 am at the church.  The interment will be at the Logan City Cemetery.

Norma's funeral service can be viewed via Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82702715495