Miriam Bushnell

1927 - 2025

Miriam Bushnell

1927-2025

Salt Lake City, UT-Miriam Christensen Bushnell was born February 24, 1927, in Spanish Fork, Utah to John William Christensen, Jr. and Sadie Bradley Christensen. She passed away peacefully on October 18, 2025 at age 98.

The Christensen family moved to Provo when Mimi was four. As the youngest of three daughters, all five years apart, she got a lot of mothering. She had a wonderful childhood and made life-long friends. Mimi attended BYU elementary, junior high, and high school, and then Brigham Young University, where she majored in English.

At BYU, she was very social and loved being involved in student activities and events. Mim was a founding member of the Cougarettes. She was a member of the ski team and O.S. Trovata and on the staff of the Banyon, BYU's yearbook.

From a very young age Miriam loved music and demonstrated a natural gift. She was an outstanding pianist and throughout her life she was passionate about her talent and it filled her soul.

After graduation, Mim taught kindergarten. Music was always a part of her instruction. She loved children and seeing them learn brought her great joy and satisfaction.

Mim became a stewardess with United Airlines in 1950. She was based in New York City and thrived there. She loved her work. Those were the glamour days for flight attendants. Mim never had a "bad hair day," and was always dressed to perfection.

During her time as a stewardess, she met Bruce Nelson. They married in 1952 and moved to California, later to Salt Lake City. They had two daughters, Shaun and Stacey. In 1956, she and Bruce divorced, and she and the girls moved to Provo to be near her parents. She ran the cosmetics department at her father's store, City Drug.

Mim did a remarkable job as a single mother, providing her girls with a happy childhood filled with fun, family and friends.

In 1963, Mim married Dan Bushnell, who had 3 children. She and her girls joined them in Little America, Wyoming where Dan was the general manager. After a year in Little America, the Bushnells moved to their final home in Salt Lake City.

In Salt Lake, Mim became involved in various civic groups and clubs, including Assistance League, Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and Authors' Club which fed her love of reading. She enjoyed her membership in Town Club and delighted in playing bridge with her many friends.

Miriam helped edit the Coptic Encyclopedia, at the University of Utah, which brought her immense satisfaction. Periodically, she had other editing jobs.

Mim and Dan loved the Utah Symphony and held season tickets for many years, as well as being consistent supporters. She loved Chopin, Bach, and any and all beautiful music.

Miriam was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Over the years, she served in a variety of callings. Amongst her favorites were as an organist in the Salt Lake Temple and for the Federal Heights Ward for more than 35 years.

In 1991, Mim and Dan moved to Frankfurt, Germany so Dan could serve as Area Legal Counsel for the Church. Mim was very supportive and excited to go. They enjoyed six amazing years of travel, museums, concerts and hiking in the Alps-everyone struggled to keep up with Mim! They loved hosting family and friends, somehow finding a way to work it into Dan's demanding schedule.

We were very lucky to have such a strong, resilient and wonderful mother. She was also a devoted and loving grandmother to her 7 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. She was always interested in the details of our lives. She was able to show individual concern for each one of us. We knew we were loved and were important to her.

Mother was preceded in death by her 2 sisters and by Dan, who passed away in 2002. She is survived by Shaun Humphries (Stephen) and Stacey Segura (Thomas) as well as all her grand and great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 1, 2025 at the Federal Heights Ward (1300 East Fairfax Road, SLC 84103), with a visitation from 9:30-10:30 am. Arrangements are under the direction of Lindquist's Bountiful Mortuary.

Condolences may be shared at www.lindquistmortuary.com