Anita Marta Kristina Nelson Gallacher

In loving memory of my mom, Anita Marta Kristina Nelson Gallacher of Millcreek, Utah. Mom passed away Sunday, August 3, 2025 from Alzheimer’s at the age of 86. Mom was born October 28, 1938 in Tucson, Arizona to Newell A. Nelson and Vanja O. Holmquist. A few years later the family moved to Sugarhouse, Utah at 2151 South 800 East. Shortly after mom was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1946, the family was called to serve a 2-year Construction Mission in Sweden. This is where her dad served as District President converting a Swedish mansion into a chapel where church meetings could be held. This included installation of a new large organ, offices, classrooms, and baptismal font.

Mom and dad both attended South High School and that’s where they met. Mom attended LDS Business College and received a scholarship to Nursing School at LDS Hospital. Mom and dad were married in Elko, Nevada on October 27, 1957, just one day before mom’s 19^th birthday.

Mom started her nursing career in Radiology at Holy Cross Hospital and quickly became Head nurse in Radiology. Mom was a nurse working for very prominent doctors back then. She worked for Dr. Peltzer, Dr. Null, Dr. Fitzpatrick, Dr. Brooke (owner of the Medical Towers building across from Holy Cross Hospital), Dr. Roskelley, and finished her career as a secretary for 23 years to Dr. Richard Middleton – Chairman of Urology at the University Of Utah Department Of Medicine.

Mom and dad divorced in 1973. Mom later met Donald Gallacher and they married February 29, 1980. Mom and Don were married for 33 years until he passed away February 1, 2013.

Mom served in many LDS Church callings: 13 years in the Family History Extraction Program, 7 years as a Service Missionary at the Welfare Square Cannery, 3 ½ years as a Service Missionary at the Murray Cannery, Stake calling in the Family History Program, 6 months as Compassionate Service Leader, and served on the Ward Compassionate Service Committee. Mom enjoyed the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout her life and attended the temple as often as she could.

She is survived by her son Kelly (Suzann) Jones; Grandchildren Brandi Lyn (James) Ribera and Jamie Lee (Jeremiah) Sutton; Great-Grandchildren Brielle (Brenden) Corwin, Jared Sutton (Gabby), Brynnlee Ribera, Brooklyn Ribera, Jackson Ribera, and Brienne Ribera. Sister-in-law Judy (Dave) Fox.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Sandra Marietta Nelson in 1945, brother Newell Richard Nelson in 2012, spouse Donald Gallacher in 2013, brother-in-law Brent Roland Jones in 1997, and ex-husband Vaughn L. Jones Jr. in 2015.

The family would like to thank Lauren at Highland Care for not giving up on mom by lovingly encouraging her to participate in physical therapy. We are also very grateful for the staff at Valencia Cottonwood Heights Memory Care and the staff at Solstice Hospice Care for their loving attention to mom’s needs and end of life care. And a special thank you to Dr. Nicholas Brening for mom’s Geriatric care.

A visitation for family and friends will be held one hour prior to the funeral (9:30 AM) at the Highland Springs Ward located at 4366 South 1500 East Millcreek, Utah.

The funeral will be at the Highland Springs Ward at 10:30 AM Friday, August 22, 2025.

Interment will be at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park and Mortuary (Whispering Pines – South East corner) 3401 South Highland Drive Millcreek, Utah. Enter off of Highland Drive – head east and keep to the right.