Venna Jensen Smith passed away on July 10, 2016 of natural causes in Salt Lake City. Venna was born November 11, 1922 (Veterans Day) in Sandy, Utah to Dr. Clarence Christian Jensen and Elfleda "Lovie" Lenora Lund. Her siblings were Callie McPhie, Fleda Larson, Hertha Tanner, and Clel Jensen.
Venna was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, daughter, sister, and friend. Venna successfully started the first cheerleading group for her junior high school. She attended Jordan High School where she enjoyed participating in drama, music and dance. She served as Senior Class Secretary. After high school, she entered nurses training at L.D.S. Hospital School of Nursing in Salt Lake City, serving as Senior Class President, before graduating as a registered nurse. After receiving her degree, she married Don Robert Smith, a high school classmate, on May 23, 1945, in the Salt Lake Temple.
After their marriage, Don and Venna moved to Seattle, Washington where Don was a civil engineer in the U.S. Navy. Venna worked as a nurse at Harborview Hospital. After Don returned from WWII, they settled in Pleasant Grove, Utah where Venna had five of her six children. Years later, their young family moved to San Francisco so Don could begin dental school. After graduation from dental school in 1958, the family moved to Campbell, CA where Don started his dental practice. Venna had her last child in San Jose. As the family grew, they moved to Saratoga, CA where the children went to high school and left for college. When Don retired from his dental practice, Venna and Don moved to Salt Lake City.
Venna enjoyed watching rainbows, crescent moons, and fireworks from her home views. She served actively in the L.D.S. Church. Five of her six children served church missions, and all six children were married in L.D.S. temples. She served in many church callings including Primary President, Young Women President, and Stake Relief Society Presidencies. With her husband, Venna traveled extensively throughout the world. Venna loved her family and hosted many family reunions to bring her children and grandchildren together. After retiring, Don and Venna served an L.D.S. Church mission to the London Temple.
Venna was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, her parents, her sisters, and her brother. She is survived by 5 of her children; Scott (died in 2012), Tyler (Gerhild), Kim (Deanna), Mark, Crystal (Ford B. Sandberg), and Jan (Ralph C. Petty), 26 grandchildren, and 53 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Saturday, July 16, 2016 at 11:00 a.m., at the Salt Lake 12th Ward Chapel, 630 East 100 South, Salt Lake City, Utah. Viewings will be held on Friday, July 15, 6:00 ‚ 8:30 p.m. at Larkin Mortuary, 260 East South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Saturday morning from 9:30 ‚ 10:30 a.m. prior to the services. Interment, next to her husband, at Brigham City Cemetery.
