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(Sept. 11, 1919 - Dec. 9, 2013)
Ila Brown Jensen went home for Christmas, departing this life on Dec. 9, 2013, at the age of 94.
Ila was born Sept. 11, 1919, in Mountainville near Mount Pleasant, Sanpete County, Utah. She was the fourth child and first daughter of Clara Spens and Thomas LeRoy Brown. Both of her parents were born at the Round Hills, also known as Mountainville. Ila was Scottish through and through with two generations ahead of her crossing the ocean and the plains to join the Latter-day Saints.
Ila came into this world assisted by the gentle hands of her grandmother, Mary Jane Campbell Spens, and Flora Reynolds, a nurse. She left this world assisted by the gentle hands of the New Horizon staff. Their tender care of Ila was so appreciated — they not only cared for her, they loved her.
Her marriage to Irvin Edward Jensen on Nov. 27, 1939, in Provo aired on the Provo radio station’s first day on the air. The commentator noted, “Young Jensen had gone back to the land of his fathers to get his bride, Biblical and true.”
Her life was filled with the happy and the sad times. Ila loved to sing and she loved to learn. One of the greatest sorrows was the loss of her first and only baby who, after a traumatic birth, arrived stillborn on Jan. 20, 1941.
Her life was one of service to her family, her friends and in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where she served as librarian, teacher and leader for all ages. She gave readings for all kinds of celebrations and had her audience in tears or fits of laughter.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Vernon, Percy, Blain, and Glen and her sister Kathleen.
Ila is survived by her sister-in-law, Inez Brown of McAlister, Okla., a host of nieces and nephews of several generations, and numerous friends to mourn her loss.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, Dec. 16, at 10 a.m. at the Burlington LDS Church. Viewing/visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church. Interment will be in the Burlington Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.haskellfuneralhome.com.
Memorial donations may be made in Ila’s name to Northwest College in Powell.
