Danelle Keith Nessen

Danelle Keith Nessen, 56 years of age, beloved daughter, wife, sister, Auntie, and Oma, passed away on September 1, 2018, after a brave fight with an aggressive form of cancer called Multiple Myeloma. Danelle was born November 28, 1961, to Daniel and Doris Keith.  Danelle married Larry Nessen on November 8, 2008 in the Bountiful, Utah temple and was blessed by his love, companionship, and tender care.

Danelle’s life work revolved around others, especially children, and she worked tirelessly in her pursuit towards education for ALL. She began her lifelong teaching career by earning her Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University and a Master of Education degree from the University of Utah. She was an instructor in Special Education for the University of Utah and taught Special Education in Davis and Murray School Districts. Danelle was the Project Specialist for Utah’s Project for Inclusion at the Utah State Office of Education. As part of the Ouelessebougou Utah Alliance, she helped organize two trips to Africa to train rural village teachers. She retired as a Kindergarten teacher from Grant Elementary, where she taught her “Kinderbugs” for 16 years. She worked in education for over 30 years and changed the lives of thousands of students.

Danelle served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hong Kong, China. Throughout the years she was involved in various church callings. She served as the ward Relief Society President, Primary President, and served in the Stake Relief Society Presidency. Most recently she worked as the Young Women’s President and was a Relief Society teacher.

Danelle was passionate about teaching and serving others and received many awards for her outstanding work. She received the Pinnacle Award from the Murray Education Foundation and was the PTA Teacher of the Year for Grant Elementary. She was honored as the Hilda B. Jones Special Educator of the Year, was the 2017 recipient of the Utah CEC Jones Gilles Teacher of the Year award and received the Murray Chamber of Commerce Award.

Danelle had the amazing ability to make everyone she met feel loved and special, and that they were her best friend. Her family was her life. Her husband, Larry, was her “Dearie” and she loved him with all her heart. In their ten years together, she learned to love motorcycles, Fu Manchu mustaches, rubber chickens, and skulls. She was adored by her five nieces.  She made their lives special with fun traditions such as the annual Tea Party, Caramel Apple Day, and making Gingerbread Houses.  Her grandchildren were a delight to her. She made every visit special and loved being their “Oma.”

She could often be found either in the garden or the kitchen. Danelle was an extremely talented cook and loved to serve others by sharing that talent with them. She also had a passion for gardening. Her home, both inside and out, was adorned with plants and flowers. She truly had a green thumb and loved to be outside digging in the dirt and enjoying the sunshine.

She is survived by her husband Larry Nessen, his children and six grandchildren, her mother Doris Argyle Keith, her brother Brian Keith and his wife, and her five nieces.

Funeral services will be held Friday, September 7, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. in the Farmington, Utah Stake Center: 347 South 200 West, Farmington. A viewing will be held Thursday evening from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at the Russon Mortuary, 1941 N Main St., Farmington and Friday morning from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the Stake Center prior to the funeral. Interment in the Farmington City Cemetery.