Deanna Alice Brimhall Carlsen

“When the going gets tough, the Tough gets going”

Deanna Alice Brimhall Carlsen peacefully returned home to her Father in Heaven on July 15, 2026. She was surrounded by her three children and family members spanning five generations during her last day. In her final years, she was surrounded with love and light with her family. Deanna was a fighter and a survivor and gave life all she had up until her final breath.

To most she was known as Dee. To her grandchildren she was known as Grammy, and she wore that title proudly. At the time of her passing she had 12 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and 1 precious great-great-grandchild.

Deanna was born to Carol Emma Burgon Brimhall and Ray Stewart Brimhall on May 13,1943 in Salt Lake City, Utah. She grew up in Union, Utah. Some of her fondest memories were listening to her daddy sing opera while her mother played the organ or piano. She grew up in a musically inclined, brilliantly talented, and incredibly intelligent family. She came from a long line of pioneers, inventors, scientists, teachers, pianists, and singers.

She was devoted to her Mother, loved her Daddy, along with music, jewelry, art, golfing, bowling, swimming, and spontaneous adventures. She was a pilot and had many adventures on private planes. Her favorite places involved the desert, water, and rocks, such as St. George, Santa Barbara, and Lake Powell, but she also loved the lush greenery of the East Coast.

Her mother was affiliated with the Daughters of The Utah Pioneers, and Deanna took great pride in her heritage, including being an ancestor of the Graham clan.

Dee attended Jordan High School. She played on the Utah Shamrocks all-female fast-pitched Softball Team. She attended university to study nursing. As a nursing student she assisted the scientists working on the first artificial heart when it was being tested on cows. Throughout her career she was a chemist and worked as a civil scientist for the United States Army at Dugway Proving Ground.

She is preceded in death by her parents Ray and Carol, her brother Ronald (Ronnie), her beloved grandson Micheal Johnson, her nephew Richard Benson, as well as aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents.

Deanna is survived by her three children: her son Ben (Jolene) Johnson, his children Mandy (Nick) Hess, Mackenzie (Ben) Johnson, Mitchell (Baylee) Johnson, and Madison Johnson; her daughter Christi (Steve) Anderson, her children Dustin (Lisa) Mattei, Stephen Mattei, Brooke (Adam) Stang, Amanda (Samuel) Adams, and Bo (Devaney) Anderson; and her daughter Shelly (Brad) Ross and her children Rocky Ross and Emma Ross. She is also survived by her sister Carolyn Brimhall and brothers Randy Brimhall and Ray Brimhall.

The family would like to acknowledge and thank the incredible nurses at Hallelujah Home Health for their endless devotion to their “lady” over the last 2 years. Because of their hard work and dedication she was able to live out her final years in the comfort of her home.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity.