Verda Nelson

Our beloved mother and grandmother, passed away November 9, 2014, at age 92, in Salt Lake City, UT. Born October 16, 1922, Roy, UT to Jesse and Lettie Matilda Hammon Stoker, she was the last of their 11 children: Herman (Minnie), Jane (Marvin Venable), Leslie (Annie), Thelma (Dewey Garner), Lee (Ethel), Eunice (Lee Southwick), Ivan (Grace), Claude and Allen (Betty), all preceding her in death (except Grace Stoker), also her son-in-law, Robert James Wiseman (May 7, 1964), and her husband (Nov. 27, 2013). She spent her youth in Roy, Morgan, UT and Burley, ID on the family farms. Coming from a heritage of pioneers, she learned the value of hard work.

Verda married Willard Edwin Nelson on October 3, 1940. Their marriage was solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple June 27, 1944. They had us 7 children: Nadine (Terry Allen), Steven (Tamara), Neil (Patricia), Diana (John Gray), Toni (Larry Myers), Susan (Seth Jarvis) and Heidi (John Jenkins). Paul (Toni) Wiseman and his siblings from Nadine’s deceased husband, Jim Wiseman were welcomed into the family like their own. She is survived by 39 grandchildren, 107 great grandchildren and 5 great greats. Every one of these family members always received birthday cards, designed and created by mom.

Mother was renowned for her fabulous work ethic, exceptionally skilled in organizing and delegating. An energetic whirlwind of vigor and vim, she was creative and thorough in everything she did. She was a talented oil painter, thespian, a harmonica player who as a child performed on radio, loved singing, enjoyed all types of music, frequented the theatre, the ballet, and concerts of every kind. She saw that we children had constant exposure to cultural events, and opportunities to travel, recreate, develop in academics, athletics, and all of the arts. She loved entertaining, belonged to Princeton Ward Study Group (47 yrs), attended the monthly Nelson Literary Group (39 yrs), enjoyed worldwide travel, journal-keeping, sewing, decorating, homemaking and she was an excellent cook. Verda was an expert in emergency preparedness, and could even do electrical and plumbing repairs!

A lifetime member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she was actively involved in every Church auxiliary. She certified the YW General Board members at the inception of the “Campcrafter Program,” and became a Church Regional Camp Director. She was Cub Scout Pack Secretary for a non-denominational group before the Church program, Den Mother, school and PTA volunteer, Election Judge, American Legion Auxiliary VP, President of Postal Transport Auxiliary, VP Delta Phi Mother’s Fraternity, Secretary of the UT Apartment Assoc. and served on its Board of Directors, member SL Council of Women, Veterans’ Hospital volunteer, Chair and founding member of the “Festival of Trees,” DUP member and officer, Area Heart Fund Chairman, Chair for American Mothers’ National Convention, and UT State American Mothers’ Chapter President. In 1987, she received the USA’s President’s Award at the National Mother’s Convention in St. Louis. In 1995 Key Bank awarded her the “Good Neighbor” award. She trained with the Red Cross to be a first-aid and home-nursing instructor, then with SL Police Dept. for “Neighborhood Mobile Watch” service. In addition, she assisted dad in building homes, managing and maintaining 42 rental units at 14 locations in the SL Valley, and teaching her children the business as well.

Her legacy of generosity and kindness to others could not be surpassed, opening her home so often that it became known as the “Verda Hilton.” Her hospitality extended from overnight guests to many who literally moved in. She served and loved young and old, family and stranger to the end, lastly donating her eyes to the Moran Eye Center for their continuing study of macular degeneration in the elderly.

Our family appreciates the staff at Sunrise Senior Living for the services and loving care they have provided to both our parents over their last few years.

We will miss Mom’s pleasant and cheerful demeanor, sense of humor, influence, and example of Christ-like service, until we meet again.

A viewing will be held Friday, November 14, 2014 at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 255 S 200 E, Salt Lake City, Utah, 6 – 8 p.m. and also Saturday, November 15, 2014, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. at the Foothill 7th Ward, 2215 E. Roosevelt Ave. (1500 S), Salt Lake City. Funeral services will follow at 11:00 a.m. The family luncheon will be at 12:30 in the ward building. At 2:00 p.m. the cortege will depart for the “Stoker Memorial Cemetery” (Family farm land Verda’s father donated to the city in 1903), 5200 S 2300 W, Roy, UT where there will be a short graveside service at 3:00 p.m. Funeral directors Russon Brothers. Online guestbook available at www.russonmortuary.com.