Dena Shurtliff

Dena Shurtliff

February 16, 1927 – February 19, 2019

Arendina “Dena” Wolthuis Shurtliff passed away February 19, 2019 in Bountiful, Utah. Dena was born in Rotterdam, Holland to Hendrick Wolthuis and Hillechiena Harmina Veldhuis. 

She was the youngest of 12 children.  Her dad was skipper on his own sailing freighter. Dena was born and lived on the boat until she was 18 months old, at which time she immigrated with her family to Ogden, Utah.

She spent her youth in Ogden where she attended Ogden High School and continued her education at Weber College. She was admitted into the last class of war nurses trained for WWII.  She lived in army barracks, went to classes in the morning, and worked a full shift at the hospital in the afternoon/evenings.  She was president of her nursing class. The army had a strict curfew, so when Dena was courting O.C., they had to be creative!

Dena married her sweetheart, Orla Charles Shurtliff Jr. “O.C.”, on June 28, 1948 in the Salt Lake Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah. She was truly a devoted wife and mother, always putting the needs of her family first.  She had a gentle kindness that was truly remarkable. She taught all of her daughters how to be mothers by her loving example.

She loved her career as an RN and blessed many lives as she cared for mothers and newborn babies at LDS and Lakeview Hospitals.  Many times, someone would comment on how Dena had made their hospital experience special.

Dena was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Her heart was with the children, and she absolutely loved her callings in the primary.

Dena was a kind, forgiving, loving, faithful woman and we will greatly miss her gentle wit, and great strength.

Dena is survived by: daughter Chris (Don) Rognon, son Reed (Syd) Shurtliff, daughter Kathy (Carl) Baker, daughter Diane (Jon) Thurman, daughter Karen (Robert) Rosier, sister Jean Winn, 22 grandchildren and 50 great-grandchildren.

Predeceased by: her loving husband O.C., parents, ten siblings and many family members.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 am, Tuesday, February 26, 2019 at the Bountiful 37th Ward Chapel located at 1540 North 400 East, Bountiful, Utah. Family and friends may call at the church from 9:30 to 10:30 am prior to services.  Interment, will be at Bountiful City Cemetery, 2224 South 200 West, Bountiful, Utah. Online guestbook at www.russonmortuary.com