Arlene Nelson WIlliams' Obituary
Arlene Nelson Williams, 92, a native of Madison County, Idaho, passed away on April 15, 2017, in Springville, Utah.
Born Feb. 25, 1925 on a farm in Burton, Idaho, she was the oldest of eleven children born to Andrew Anderson Nelson and Wilhelmina Van der Wel. Growing up in Burton and Herbert during the depression and in Rexburg during the war years, she felt a loving bond to her family and developed a strong work ethic, both of which attributes she passed along to her children. Among her happiest memories of her youth were skiing on the Rexburg bench and enjoying the outdoors with her family; camping, picnics at the sand hills, and especially huckleberry picking and visiting with extended family.
Her zest for life brought her delight in the simplest of pleasures and her sense of fun and bright smile lit up those around her. A life-long member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she served many years in the Primary and Relief Society organizations. She ardently shared her strong testimony with many children, including her own, preparing them well for baptism and an enduring commitment to the principles of the gospel she loved so much.
Following graduation from Madison High School, class of 1944, she earned an Associate’s Degree from Ricks College in 1946. She chose to become a nurse at the tender age of five and fulfilled that dream when she graduated from the LDS School of Nursing at Idaho Falls in 1949. She then earned a BS degree in Nursing from BYU. She used her knowledge and skills to contribute to the care of young and old in hospitals and nursing homes during nearly 45 years of service. Her favorite nursing field was obstetrics. Her children and their pets were frequent beneficiaries of her gifts of healing.
She met Leslie Warren Williams of Modesto, California, at a BYU matinee dance in 1950 and they married on May 25, 1951 in Salida, California, following their graduations. Their union was solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS Temple the following December. Parents of six daughters; Arlene loved being a mother and leaves a legacy of faith, respect, serving, and taking joy in the journey.
Though most of Arlene's adult life was spent in Northern California, Western Colorado and in Utah, her heart has always been in Idaho where she spent most of her summers, always cheering as she crossed the border into her home state. Perhaps her greatest love was collecting names and stories of ancestors on her husband's and her own lines. She interviewed many aging relatives, acquired books, and learned research skills which she passed along to her daughters who have been greatly blessed by her love of family history. Though her own ancestors came from Holland, Norway, Scotland, and Ireland, she felt a kinship with all people.
She was preceded in death by her husband, L. Warren Williams; sisters: Lois Hatch, Coral Harris, brothers: Kwenden, Marvin, Dwain, Zryl, and David Nelson. She is survived by sisters Merla Nelson, Nelljean Harris, and brother Nylin Nelson and her daughters: Vivian (Steve) Milius of Rexburg, ID; Gwen Williams (Bill Gibson) of Kayenta, AZ; Velinda Williams-Mitchell of Springville, UT; Dawna (Edwin) Sexton of Rexburg, ID; Natasha (Dean) Boren of Bountiful, UT; and Tara (Vance) Carolin of Kalispell, MT; 32 grandchildren; and 38 great-grandchildren.
Her cheerful, heartfelt and loving phrase at every parting, for which she will be remembered by all, was "Good Luck and Be Safe!"
Her funeral is Tuesday, April 18, at 11:00 a.m. at 3599 S. Orchard Drive in Bountiful, Utah. Her viewing will precede the funeral at 10:00 a.m. Her internment is in the Bountiful City Cemetery.
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