Joyce Flynn Jensen

Our English rose and family Matriarch, Joyce Flynn Jensen passed away June 11, 2023, at the age of 95.  She was small in stature but large in faith, wisdom, steadfastness, and love for her family and multitude of friends.  She truly endured till the end.

Joyce was the first child born to Harold Flynn and Gladys Rabbett, on April 26, 1928, in Leeds, Yorkshire England.  As the oldest, Joyce took on many of the responsibilities that came with having five younger siblings.  At the tender age of five, she was hit by a lorry and remained in hospital for several months waiting for her femur to heal.  At age 11, she experienced The Blitz on the United Kingdom during World War II, and was billeted to the country along with 70,000 other English children, for safety reasons. 

She first learned about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saints in 1937, while attending a make-shift Primary in Leeds.   This experience led her to attend Sunday services.  Soon, the branch missionaries were teaching Gladys and Harold, and before long, the Flynn family members over the age of eight were baptized.  Through missionary acquaintances, Joyce obtained sponsorship in the United States, and in 1950 she sailed to America.

While attending M-Men and Gleaners, she met Frank West Jensen, and on November 16, 1951, they were married in the Salt Lake Temple.  Five sons would follow.  Joyce was an excellent seamstress and upon arriving in Salt Lake, she worked for Pullman Tailors in alterations.  Along with designing and sewing her own clothes, she made tailored pants and jackets for her young sons.  When her youngest son turned six, Joyce went to work for Utah School Services.  During her 23-year tenure with the state, she made many friends, served thousands of Utah’s children, and rose to become president of the organization.

While working and raising her “Jensen boys”, she held many church callings in Primary, Young Women’s, and Relief Society.  In 1994, she and Frank served as workers in the newly dedicated Bountiful LDS Temple.  When Frank passed away in September, 2001, Joyce moved from Bountiful to St. George.  Nearing age 80, she was called to be Relief Society President in her St. George ward.  Her faith never wavered, nor did her willingness to serve.  After retirement, she became a proficient genealogist and was still locating relatives up until she passed away.      

Preceded in death by her husband Frank; son Mark; brothers Fred and Stephen; sisters Margaret and Maureen; and granddaughter, Shannen.  Survived by four sons, Carl (LuDean), David (Sharon), Frank (Kimberly), John (Holly), and daughter-in-law Mary.  She is survived by one sister, Edna, who resides in England.   Her surviving posterity includes 18 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great grandchildren.

Funeral services are scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Monday, June 19, 2023, with a viewing prior to services beginning at 8:30 a.m.  The viewing and service will be held at Russon Mortuary, 295 North Main, Bountiful, Utah.   Interment- Bountiful City Cemetery.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Brothers Mortuary Facebook page and on this obituary page. The live stream will begin 10-15 minutes before the services and will be posted below.

Deep in our hearts you will always stay … Loved and remembered every day.