Bonnie R. Jensen

Our dear mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend passed away peacefully on Monday, January 7th, 2025. She was born on April 19th, 1929, to Frank Calvin and Anna Bernice (Brown) Russell. She was sealed to Robert W. Jensen in the Salt Lake Temple on March 3rd, 1950, by Ezra Taft Benson.

Bonnie was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many capacities. Serving in the Primary, Young Women’s, and with the sisters of the Relief Society. She also was involved in the Indexing program. Bonnie and Bob served an inner-city mission together.

Bonnie loved being with her family, especially for birthday dinners and at the Holidays. If you were going on a trip, she was always ready to be your travel buddy. Her travels took her across the USA to Alaska, Hawaii, and Italy. She loved her family trips to beach houses in southern California and Disneyland. Bonnie really enjoyed boating and water skiing with family and friends at Lake Powell and Bear Lake. The last time she water skied was when she was 75 years old. Yes, we have pictures!

Bonnie worked at the University of Utah as an executive secretary in the Endocrine Lab Research Center and the Surgery billing departments. She also served at least 25 years as an usher at Rice-Eccles stadium, the Jon M. Huntsman Center and Kingsbury Hall.

She liked doing ceramics and made each of her great-grandchildren an animal piggy bank for their 1st Christmas.

She loved to read. Her bookshelves were full of books that she read, and when her memory started failing, she would re-read them, saying it was like reading a new book.

Mom liked to walk her neighborhood and when she moved into Sunrise Senior Living, she would walk the halls of her new neighborhood. The staff said they loved it when she would walk late at night and come to visit and eat with them.

She is survived by her six children: Robert Stephen (Tarina) Jensen, Valerie (Steve) Gertino, Russell Calvin (Alison) Jensen, Wendy (DeVon) Gledhill, DruAnn (Mat) Doxey and Marcie (Dennis) Gledhill. 29 grandchildren, 19 grandchildren-in-laws, 61 great grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren-in-laws. Preceded in death by her husband, Robert, two grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.

Thank you to Sunrise Senior Living and Inspiration for taking such good care of our mother, and thank you to Valerie, her daughter, for all you did for Mom and for all the time you spent with her.

Bonnie’s favorite things to say when you were visiting with her were: “It’s a great life if you don’t weaken,” and when you were leaving, she would say, “Keep on Smiling.”

A viewing/gathering will be Monday, January 13th, from 11 am to 12:30 pm at Holbrook Mortuary 3251 So 2300 E. SLC, Utah. A graveside service will follow. Interment at Elysian Gardens.

We love you, MOM, and we miss you already. Till we meet again: Keep on Smiling.