Joan Nielsen Smith

Joan Nielsen Smith passed away on February 24, 2023 at Legacy Assisted Living in Spanish Fork, Utah. She was born June 21, 1931 to Albert Peter Nielsen and Erma Ione Burns Nielsen in Pocatello, Bannock County, Idaho. She was the oldest of five children: Phil (Kitty) Nielsen, Keith (Barbara) Nielsen, Mark (Linda), and Rhea (Max) Quick. She was 91 years old.

She graduated from Jordan High School and married Roy Lee Smith on June 13, 1951. Joan and Roy raised seven children: Marlene (Dave) Hippen; Ann (Terry) Roper; Ellen (Larry) Van Dyke; Arlen (Sue) Smith; Rita (Bret) MacCabe; RaNae Smith; and Lara Obert. They have 39 grandchildren and 69 great-grandchildren.

Joan was an avid homemaker and stay-at-home mother while the children were growing up. She loved to bake and sew and make preserves. Joan served in many capacities in her membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, including years as the Relief Society President and Gospel Doctrine teacher. She baked 6-8 loaves of homemade bread every week and delivered extras to widowed sisters in her ward. She sang in the ward choir for many years.

Joan served four adult missions with her husband; 2 years as a teacher in Tonga; 6 months at Skaggs cattle ranch in Idaho; 18 months at Deseret Farms in California; and 18 months at the Lindon, Utah, cannery.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 6 at the Salem Main Street Church. Viewing will be at 10 a.m. with the funeral following at 11 a.m. Burial will be at the Heber City Cemetery March 7 at 12:00 noon.