Jessa Dansie

Our beautiful Mother, Jessa Dansie, passed away at home Sunday morning, June 3, 2012. She was born in a small cabin not far from the banks of the Blackfork River in Lyman, Wyoming on August 24, 1918. She was the fourth child of Mahonri Moriancumer and Estella Starling Dansie. Soon after her birth, the family moved back to Salt Lake City where Jessa grew up during the Great Depression. She learned the value of hard work when her father planted a garden and she helped irrigate it, harvested the produce and helped preserve it for the winter months. As a pre-teen, her family visited their Grandma Dansie in Wyoming where Jessa enjoyed her first horseback ride and her first time fishing in the river. Catching one little fish was great fun and she was hooked for life. Her music teachers instilled a lifelong love of music. She especially loved classical piano. Soon after she graduated from South High School in 1936, Jessa was hired by Fisher Baking Company where she met her husband, Boyd DeVere Swenson. On August 2, 1939, they were married in Salt Lake City, Utah. They had four children and much later, divorced. Jessa was adored for her positive attitude, spunk, generosity and strong faith as a devout member of the LDS Church. She had a firm handshake, strong will and tenacity. Jessa was talented in sewing, embroidery, needlework and created numerous gorgeous quilts. Jessa loved to garden, read, work jigsaw puzzles and play games. Jessa is survived by her children, LeRoy (Tammy) Swenson, Evelyn Jeanne (Rulon) Carter, Robert (Susan) Swenson and JoAnn Hatch; 18 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and another one on the way. She is also survived by her dear siblings, Westley Dansie, Mildred (Billy) Copeland, Dorothy Dansie and Estella Benson. Jessa was preceded in death by her parents; brother, LeRoy Dansie; sister, Fern Bateman; and granddaughter, Michelle Carter Stauffer. We would like to thank Dr. Anne Pendo and First Choice Home Health Care and Hospice for the outstanding care they provided.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, June 9, 2012 at Noon at the Canyon Rim 1st Ward, 3000 S. Grace Street (3100 East), where friends and family can visit from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. prior to the service. Interment: Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park. Messages and tributes to the family can be posted at: www.holbrookmortuary.com