Joan Reidun Jensen Perry

Joan Reidun Jensen Perry passed away peacefully in her sleep at Rocky Mountain Care – Clearfield, Utah October 26, 2023, of natural causes after a battle with declining health. She was 81 years young.

She was born July 24, 1942, in San Francisco, CA to Hans Henrik Martinius Jensen and Rediun Marit Jacobsen. She was an only child.

She was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She attended church with her family throughout the years, and even though not towards the end due to health concerns, she faithfully donated her tithes, offerings and humanitarian relief without fail. She held various callings in the church such as ward librarian and served a stake mission as a stake missionary.

Joan was born in San Francisco during the height of World War II, and at the age of 2 moved with her parents back to Norway and Denmark to be with family there. At age 5, she moved back to the states settling in Salt Lake City. Upon arrival, she didn’t speak a word of English and was known for stomping on the ground to her teachers and classmates as they couldn’t understand what she was trying to say.

Her father Hans, AKA Henry, died of a heart attack when she was 11 years old on September 29, 1953. She later moved to West Valley City, Utah, to a small house on the corner just off Redwood Road.

After her mother Reidun Marit Jacobsen remarried to a Danish friend of her husband, Rudolf Nielsen, they were sealed as a family in the Jordan River, Utah temple May 9, 1995, after the passing of Rudolf.

She was married and sealed to her husband Dallas Gage Perry on August 25, 1962, in the Manti, Utah temple. They were divorced on May 5, 1998, but their sealing has remained intact. They had two children, a girl and a boy.

Later, after Joan’s marriage, she moved to Kearns to raise her children for 10 years until moving back to West Valley City.

After divorce, she moved to South Salt Lake into an apartment and then finally moved to the South Lake Villa nearby into the very same apartment that her mother lived in before her passing in May of 2000.  She had many wonderful friends there and was grateful for their love, support and fellowship.

Joan was an amazing lady, very kind, humble and generous to all who knew her. She was a fantastic mother and raised her children the best she could, teaching them to love, be honest and kind. She sat up many nights with a sick child, literally sleeping on the ground next to their bed holding their hand, comforting them. As her children grew into teenagers, she would wait up very late into the early morning sitting on the front porch steps, worrying about them coming home from dates and/or other deeds without permission.

She enjoyed singing in high school choir, ice skating, crochet and sewing. She loved to go to the movies with her children and loved to watch her soaps on TV to relax.  She worked most of her adult life at various locations, doing insurance work, ten-key punching and help desk for American Express, and finally for Zions Bank before retiring.

Holiday times were the best as we came together for wonderful meals for Thanksgiving and Christmas with as much family as possible. Joan’s Scandinavian roots in Norway meant that we would eat Frickadille, madistaprilsa and yulekaka learned from her mother along with traditional American recipes.

She is survived by her children Julynne Perry Jarvis, son-in-law Wade Jarvis, Kyle Ashley Perry, grandchildren Skyler Barger, granddaughter-in-law Mary Willyerd Barger, Jourdan Barger Bean, grandson-in-law Daniel Bean, Braydon Jarvis, Rebecca Ann Perry, Annaleisa Perry, Robin Brooke Perry, grandson-in-law Trevor Flocco, Adam James Perry, granddaughter-in-law Lindsay Wright Perry, Laura Mikhail Marit Perry Slaugh, grandson-in-law Kaleb Slaugh, Joshua Gabe Perry, great grandchildren Luke Barger, Ryan Barger, Kara Barger, Noah Barger, Jessica Bean, Cooper Bean, Landon Bean, Kinley Bean, Sanya Elizabeth Warner, Kearie Aleira Warner, Emmalee Rae Roberts, Maddilyn Ivey Perry, Henry James William Flocco, Lincoln James Perry, Eli Scott Perry, and Leo Kyle Perry. She was preceded in death by her ex-husband Dallas Gage Perry, mother Reidun Marit Jacobsen, father Hans Henrik Martinius Jensen, and father-in-law Rudolf Nielsen.

A viewing will be held at Memorial Holladay-Cottonwood Mortuary located 4670 S Highland Drive, Holladay, Utah 84117 on Wednesday November 1, 2023, from 6-8:00 pm and then on Thursday November 2, 2023, from 10-11:00 am, and funeral starting at 11:00 am, with graveside services following at Memorial  Holladay Cemetery, 4900 South Memory Lane, Holladay, Utah.