Bessie Gay Jensen Burkholz's Obituary
Bessie Gay Jensen Burkholz, born July 9, 1933, in Huntington, Utah to Rosel J. Jensen and Flora Johnson Jensen. Bessie Gay was the youngest of six siblings whom she adored. She loved living and working on a farm and was proud of her farming heritage. Bessie (as she was called in her youth) cherished time with her dad out on the farm in Buffalo. She was proud to have been in the 4-H program, a youth educational and development program, and entered Emery County and Utah State Fairs. She attended North Emery High School where she was on the school paper staff and in the band. Bessie was the President of the Learn to Sew Club in Huntington and mastered seamstress and quilting skills throughout her life. She was a beautiful quilter and hand stitched dozens of quilts even into her late 80s. Each of her children and grandchildren have received hand-stitched quilts made with love as indicated by a small red heart sewn into each quilt as her trademark.
When it was time for college, Gay traveled from the desert in central Utah to beautiful Cache Valley in northern Utah to attend Utah State University. There she enjoyed playing clarinet in the marching band and earned a bachelor’s degree majoring in English Education. She was proud to be an Aggie like her mother and siblings. While at Utah State University, Gay started studying German and joined a student group that traveled to Europe. After school she moved to Las Vegas where she taught English at Las Vegas High School for two years, then from 1957-59 served a mission in the West German Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. While on her mission she served part of the time in the Mission Office as a secretary. There she met a young handsome Elder Karl T. Burkholz who was serving as an Assistant to the Mission President. Following their missions, Gay and Karl were married and sealed for eternity in the Salt Lake Temple on June 30, 1960. This was the beginning of their beautiful family that grew quickly, having 7 children in 13 years.
Gay loved the outdoors, particularly hiking and camping and she loved a good adventure. She traveled broadly throughout the world and backpacked in the slot canyons of southern Utah, the mountains of Utah and Wyoming, and visited many places in between. It wasn’t the where, as much as it was the who she was with that gave her such joy. She also loved reading and actively participated in a book club for over two decades, enjoying a variety of genres to later discuss with friends.
Gay was a faithful and active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She loved serving in the Relief Society, Primary, Young Women’s, as well as being active in the PTA. For many years Gay was self-employed as a typist and worked tirelessly from home while raising small children. When the children were a little older, she worked at the Utah Supreme Court as a legal secretary to one of the Justice’s. She concluded her professional career owning and operating a successful insurance agency together with Karl.
After retirement, Gay served with her husband in the Nashville, TN mission, and on two additional three-year Service Missions at Temple Square. She devoted many years to family history, and together with Karl they researched and found over 7,000 names for genealogy records. Gay was extremely proud of her Pioneer heritage and instilled a love of family within her own. She lived a Christ-centered life and taught her children through home lessons and by example the importance of service, love, and inclusion of all. We will greatly miss our mom, grandma, and great grandma. May her memory be a blessing to all who love her so dearly.
Gay is survived by her children Howard (Liz) Burkholz, Teri (Manny) Gallegos, Karla (Matt) Burton, Julie Case, Randy Burkholz, Jon (Carolina) Burkholz, Rod (Olga) Burkholz. Also, 15 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by her husband Karl T. Burkholz (1931-2019), parents Rosel & Flora Jensen, a brother Zen Jensen, and sisters Shirley Couch, Joan Huntsman, Burt Edmonds, and Beverly Petersen.
Services will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 3070 East Nila Way, Holladay, UT.
Visitation: Sunday, August 25, 6:30-8:00 p.m. and Monday, August 26, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Funeral Service: Monday, August 26, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. (MST)
Interment: Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 S. Highland Drive, Millcreek, UT
Funeral Service livestream https://zoom.us/j/91710967163?pwd=fbt5vNr1BSWiBEntaphwVH7B0b81aH.1
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