Olga Elizabeth (Betty) Gundersen, age 93, passed away peacefully in the comfort of her Holladay, Utah home on April 9, 2026, surrounded by the family she spent her life building and cherishing.

Betty was born on January 4, 1933, in Salt Lake City, the only child of Arthur Eduart Hartman and Olga Tabitha Pederson. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 71 years, John Edward Gundersen; her parents; her son, Karl Allen (Janet) Gundersen; and her half-siblings, Jay Arthur Hartman and Annette Hartman Johnson.

Her eternal romance began in the Valley View 1st Ward. After hearing John—fresh from his Norwegian mission—offer a prayer, Betty’s grandmother Tabitha whispered, “You ought to set your cap for him.” Betty did just that. On Mother’s Day, she performed a violin solo; captivated, John asked his sister-in-law, “Who is that beautiful blonde girl in the red suit?” Their first date followed at the Gold and Green Ball. They were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on September 5, 1952, by Elder LeGrand Richards.

Betty considered her 71-year marriage and her family of nine children her greatest accomplishment. She is survived by Edward (Diana) Gundersen, Olga (Lisa) Rosander, Samuel (Carmi) Gundersen, Karen (David) Luke, Julie (Rex) Weber, Erik (Elizabeth) Gundersen, Elizabeth Gundersen, and Christian (Brooke) Gundersen, along with 26 grandchildren, 51 great-grandchildren and more on their way! Her heart and home were a sanctuary; the "welcome mat" was always out for extended family, foreign exchange students, Tibetan refugees, and anyone in need of a “Mormor and Papa.”

Her early years were forged by the Great Depression. She often recalled living in a railroad boxcar in Wendell, Idaho, while her family sought stability. When her Prussian father moved to Colorado for work, her mother chose to stay in Idaho to raise Betty in the Gospel. This was a decision Betty credited for the trajectory of her life. At age six, her legendary faith was already evident during a trip to Yellowstone; as a black bear leaned against their car, she calmly told her frightened family, “Those baoows won’t get me, Heavenly Father won’t let em.”

The violin was the thread that wove her life together. Beginning lessons at age eight, she became a gifted musician, serving as concert mistress at Granite High School. She received a scholarship at the University of Utah and she performed with Utah State Orchestra. Her dedication never waned; at age 93, she was still passing on her gift by teaching her great-granddaughter, Olivia.

Betty’s resilience was tested early. After moving to Seattle during WWII, where her mother worked as a Boeing "Rosie the Riveter," they returned to Salt Lake City only for Betty to lose her mother to cancer at age 13. Raised by her grandmother Tabitha and later her step-grandfather Carl Bigler, Betty grew into a woman of immense charity. She spent 15 years as an educational assistant at Madison and Woodrow Wilson Elementary Schools and continued volunteering at Crestview and Hawthorn well into retirement, teaching children to read.

A devoted disciple of Jesus Christ, she was a dedicated member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - serving as Primary, YW Mutual Improvement Association and Sunday School Teacher, Guide Patrol Leader, Relief Society President, a Senior Missionary in Tromsø, Norway, and eight years in the Salt Lake Temple with her husband, John. As a genealogist, she possessed the "Spirit of Elijah," dedicating thousands of hours to genealogical detective work. Her family believes the greatest gift to her memory would be to continue that sacred work.

To all who were greeted by her: you felt her love, and through her, you felt God’s love. While words are inadequate to express gratitude for her sacrifice, her family is honored to celebrate her life and cherishes the hope of a happy reunion.

Service Information

Funeral Services: Monday, April 13, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. 

To Stream Services, please click here: Olga Elizabeth (Betty) Gundersen Livestream

Location: Valley View 9th Ward Chapel, 1925 E. Gundersen Lane, Holladay, UT 84124. 

Viewing: 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. prior to services.

The family expresses deep gratitude to Elizabeth for her years of dedicated care, and to Valeo Hospice for their kindness.