Rebecca Jean Nilsen Sutton

Rebecca Jean Nilsen Sutton, 77, mother, friend and loving companion, slipped from the travails of this mortal life into eternity and the loving arms of our Heavenly Father, October 12, 2025. She was born November 20, 1947, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Roy Edgar and Margaret Bennion Nilsen, the third child and only girl with four brothers: Ben, Brent, Gary and Bryan.
Known (throughout her early years as Becky), she graduated from Highland High School in Salt Lake and attended the University of Utah while she worked in the University Hospital and the Veterans' Hospital in the food service.
Rebecca met her future companion, Richard Sutton, at the University of Utah Institute Building on January 25, 1968. They were engaged April 7 and married a year later April 8, 1969, in the Salt Lake Temple.
Her first child, Emily was born in 1970 followed by Michael James in 1971. Rebecca was expecting her third child in 1973 when, in the fall of 1972, she fell drastically ill and was diagnosed with " all the symptoms of what is called Multiple Sclerosis!" After receiving a Priesthood blessing, she was able to continue with the pregnancy and Stephen Karl was born. It was four years before she was able to continue with another daughter, Sarah, in 1977, followed by Mark Andrew in 1979 and Geoffrey Samuel in 1983. Add to that 17 grandchildren and 1 & 8/9 great-grandchildren.
In 1982, living in the small town of Sterling, UT, Rebecca began experimenting with chocolate dipping and other confections. To use up the cream from the raw milk given to us by neighbors, she made a pecan roll. Neighbors tried it and suggested she enter it in the county fair where she won the sweepstakes ribbon on her first try. Others encouraged her to enter a boutique and sell the product, which she did. And she sold out everything in 90 minutes. In 1991, a permanent location was opened in Sandy, Utah and Rebecca's Chocolates was born.
Rebecca did not relish being a businesswoman. She enjoyed being grandma. She would have enjoyed much more making chocolates and giving them away.
Finally, in 2001, the Multiple Sclerosis began affecting her senses and soon after she lost all ability to taste and smell. She "retired" and did what she always wanted to do: Be a grandma, a neighbor, a friend.
Rebecca had simple tastes. Any travel had to be to see family. When she wasn't with family, she was helping someone else. If you needed help watching your children, if you needed someone to scrub your floors or toilets, if you needed a meal or a listening ear, Rebecca was there. Nothing was beneath her. She was an angel on this earth.
Funeral Services will be held Friday October 24, 2025 at 11 a.m. at Jenkins-Soffe South Valley Mortuary, 1007 W. South Jordan Parkway (10400 S), South Jordan, UT. Viewing will be held from 9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. the morning of the funeral.
Burial will take place in the Sandy City Cemetery.
If you would like to honor Rebecca's life, please consider the following:
1. Help a family in need!
2. Lend a listening ear to someone who is sad or lonely or depressed.
3. Donate to a food bank, a mission fund, a women's shelter, a school food program or any worthy endeavor.
Rebecca was not much into plants or flowers. She always said flowers die too quickly and I kill plants no matter how much care I give them!
But if you must bring/send flowers, please consider no more than 1 rose. Yes! Only 1! Because if you knew Rebecca, you had an eternal friend and you had One Beautiful Rose in your life!!!
She loved you all!!
Services may be viewed at www.jenkins-soffe.com.