St. George, Utah - Surrounded by her family, Betty Veloy Jensen Kingsbury, of St. George, Utah; continued on her journey to her eternal home Monday, October 9, 2023.

Betty was born in Spanish Fork, Utah on December 14, 1926 to her parents Archibald Wesley Jensen and Sarah Sylvia Stewart. She remembers small town celebrations with decorated bicycles and children pulling wagons in parades. Betty's mother would make the younger girls dresses that were made of crepe paper. She used to pinch them together with her fingers to make them fit and to make fancy edges on them. Of course, when it got wet it would fade and run onto the skin. Betty continued to love celebrating patriotic holidays. She loved her pioneer heritage and served many years in the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers organization. Her artistic touch brightened many luncheons and parties.

Her education began at Thurber Elementary School in 1936. She continued at Roosevelt Jr. High school where she enjoyed learning to sew. At East High she learned to type and continued to refine her sewing skills. She graduated from East High School on June 8, 1944, at Kingsbury Hall.

One of her first jobs was at the Bureau of Reclamation at the end of 1944 until she was expecting her first child in 1947. She also worked at Hill Air Force Base where she applied her bookkeeping skills. When they moved to California, she was the iconic popcorn lady at Byrd Jr. High School where she applied her people skills. While living in California, she worked at Security Pacific Bank of Glendale, California where she influenced everyone she met.

Betty met her sweetheart on Thursday, August 8, 1946. Betty and her friend, Millie Seamon, were on their way to a dance at the Rainbow Randevu. Two guys wanted to go with them, and Betty could tell that this tall blonde "Jack" had moved in to take her as his dance partner. He confessed later that it was exactly what happened. On their first date they went to Memory Grove in City Creek Canyon. She and Jack were married October 18, 1946 in Kaysville, Utah. It was performed in Judge Major's home. His wife and son were the witnesses. They were getting ready to go deer hunting and had their rifles sitting around ready to be put in their truck. It could have looked like a shotgun wedding, but it wasn't. They spent their 2-day honeymoon at the Ben Lomond Hotel in Ogden, Utah. They had $20.00 between them. They were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple October 18, 1949. They were parents to Larry J Kingsbury, Lynn J Kingsbury, Nancy Kingsbury Anderson, and David J Kingsbury.

They began their life together in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. The first home they owned was located at 1897 South Fifth East in Salt Lake City. Jack's job transferred the family to Los Angeles, and they moved in 1960 to 13200 Community Street in Sun Valley, California. 1990 marked another move to St. George, Utah where she lived at 875 Rio Virgin Drive the rest of her life.

For 96 years, Betty blessed the lives of all those who knew her. She served so many others by baking cupcakes for fundraisers, transporting children to primary, sewing dolls and pillows for church bazars and organizing endless records in her role as secretary in the auxiliary organizations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her Cub Scouts and Merrie Miss Girls enriched her life and she influenced theirs. Her hands were never idle and craft projects, oil paintings, and counted cross stitch creations grace the homes of her friends and family. She loved to document family milestones with photographs and scrapbooks. Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, saved hundreds of handwritten letters and original cards which evidenced her special attention to detail and her personal touch. She seldom visited without bringing delicious homemade cookies. Her tasty raisin chocolate chip cookies as well as snickerdoodles were always welcomed.

Her love of traveling began when she heard that her sister was going to Illinois. She had always wanted to go back east, and Chicago was beckoning. She and her friend Ruth Smith acquired a loan from the People's Finance and hitched a ride with her sister's family, Mary Artence, Kermit and little Kerm. She remembers how hard it was to travel with a small child and that they didn't stop at a hotel, they just kept on driving. That trip was just the first of hundreds. She and Jack loved to travel and explore new continents. Every new adventure broadened her horizons and increased her circle of friends. Often, they would invite a grandchild to share a special trip with them. Afterwards a unique book would be created capturing those moments through photographs to be enjoyed time after time as the pages were turned. Even the COVID Pandemic was an opportunity to create a one-of-a-kind book.

Christmas time became magical when you celebrated it with Betty. Her home was transformed with sparkling decorations and delectable confections. Holiday feasts included traditional favorites as well as new recipes. Her homemade chocolate covered cherries and nuts were legendary. She donated thousands to the festival of trees and you counted yourself lucky if you received you own personal sweet treat. Participating in a reenactment of the Nativity at Grandma's house as well as a retelling of the Grinch that Stole Christmas with Grandpa (at her insistence) resulted in smiles galore. Her gifts were hand-picked just for you and young and old could not resist the warmth that emanated from her home.

She has nurtured relationships with her many nieces and nephews. "Aunt Betty" was the one who remembered specific details about them and worked diligently to connect the extended family. During early years the aunts, uncles, and cousins would visit her at "The Kingsbury Hotel" on Community Street in Sun Valley, California. Those backyard barbecues and sleeping out in the garage or on the floor the night before embarking on delightful journeys to Olvera Street, Zuma Beach, or Disneyland served to create shared memories that united us all. Later she would share her hospitality at her abode at the Vintage in St. George, Utah. Whether you were on your way elsewhere or her house was the destination, you were welcomed, fed, and entertained.

What motivated a woman like Betty to serve and bless all she met along her path? Why was each and every family member cherished? Her unwavering testimony that she has a Father in Heaven who loves her enough to send His Son to die for us. She knew of His love and wanted to share through her tireless actions that love.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Archibald Wesley Jensen and Sarah Sylvia Stewart; her siblings: Archie Rulon Jensen, Verda Jensen Parker (Verdon), DellaVene Jensen Post (Glen), Mary Artence Jensen Sheehan (Kermit), Reginald Bernell Jensen (Marion), Josephine Jensen Cackett (Bob), and Allen S. Jensen (Marybell); the light of her life, Jack Haight Kingsbury; and her grandsons: Mark Richard Anderson and David Richard Anderson. She is survived by her four children: Larry J Kingsbury (Jan), Lynn J Kingsbury (Ronnie), Nancy Kingsbury Anderson (Richard), and David J Kingsbury (Julie); 19 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren; and 3+ great-great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at 11:00 a.m., with a visitation prior at 10:00 a.m., at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 300 Center Street, Spanish Fork, Utah. She will be interred in the Spanish Fork City Cemetery, Spanish Fork, Utah.

Please see link below for live stream of services:

( https://zoom.us/j/97387373169)

Passcode:  1234

Betty Kingsbury Funeral Service Program