Marla Ann Chase Oredson

Marla Ann Chase Oredson, 88, was surrounded by her family members as she passed away on June 10, 2025, into the inviting arms of loved ones waiting on the other side.

Marla was born on December 31, 1936, at Mercy Hospital in Merced, California, to Nona Mary Ella Willett and Francis Lester Chase. Marla lived on her grandfather’s farm in Atwater, CA, till age 5. By then her younger brother Paul Douglas Chase was born.

Marla’s family moved to the Exchequer Dam Camp on the Merced River. Marla attended school in a one-room schoolhouse. She had not had schooling for grades 1st and 2nd. A new teacher taught her grades 1st - 3rd all in one year. Her family lived in Exchequer until she was 11. Her family then moved to Livingston, CA, where her father Francis grew up. In Livingston she attended grammar school and high school and graduated in 1954. While in high school she was active in drama and competed in the National Forensic League. Her field was humorous interpretations; her take on “Horton Hatches an Egg" by Dr. Suess won her a 1st place trophy for the state of California during her junior year.

While in high school Marla joined Job’s Daughters becoming Honored Queen. She had an ankle injury when she was young and was given dance lessons to strengthen her feet and ankles. She had the privilege of being part of the entertainment for the Job’s Daughters World Convention in Long Beach, CA. She danced a toe tap and ballet number.

Marla went on to Modesto Junior College for the next two years. She studied dance. She had the dance lead in the two fall operettas: Finian’s Rainbow and Carousel. She also had the drama lead in the two spring plays: Bernadette and The Crucible, winning best drama actor for two years. Marla was the head cheerleader while at college. She was crowned the 1st Sweetheart at Modesto Junior College.

In 1956 Marla Attended the University of California at Berkeley and pledged at the Alpha Delta Pi house. Marla majored in P.E. and dance and minored in speech and drama. During the week of her graduation Marla applied for a job as a stewardess at Pan American Airlines. She worked for Pan American for two years. Marla’s flights took her to Hawaii, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, Jakarta, London, Paris, Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, Fiji and Bannock. On one of her flights to Hawaii she met Daniel Milo Oredson, a past boyfriend of one of her sorority sisters at CAL Berkeley. She was told he was good for a free lunch.

Marla and Dan met, dated and two years later, in 1961 they were married in Modesto, CA. Marla and Dan took a 30-day honeymoon around the world via Pan American Airlines for $318.00. Marla and Dan ended up living in Honolulu, Hawaii, soon after. Son Gregory Nels Oredson was born in Honolulu, HI, in October 1962. In the spring of 1962 Marla and Dan purchased a lot on Maunalani Heights with a live-in garage; they soon built on to it. While Marla was pregnant with Greg she served as the first president of World Wings, the retired Pan American Airlines flight personnel. Marla also worked at the YMCA as a secretary and switchboard operator. Five years later daughter Kirra Lilja Oredson was born in Honolulu, HI, in September 1967.

After Greg was born Marla and Dan were introduced to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by their dentist. After investigating many churches, they were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1970. They were sealed as a family in the Laie, HI, temple in 1973.

Throughout the years in Honolulu, Marla was very active in service at the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served as Relief Society President, Young Women’s President, Primary President, and Stake Family History Consultant. Marla joined the DAR9 (Daughters of the American Revolution) serving as state chaplain.

With her two children moving to Utah and settling down, Marla and Dan decided to move to Salt Lake City to be close to family. In 1995 Marla and Dan decided to purchase the Woodruff Ritter mansion on State Street on Capitol Hill, Salt Lake City, UT. After two years of restoring and remodeling they restored the old mansion, turning it into a beautiful historic bed and breakfast called The Inn on Capitol Hill. They both always wanted to own and run a bed and breakfast due to the many family trips they had taken in Europe with the children. Marla ran the Inn for one year as the manager. Marla and Dan sold the Inn on Capitol Hill in 2000 and they both retired.

Marla often said that she had a life of miracles, and many close death experiences; the miracles started when she was a child and continued to when she was young adult and older. She felt the Lord's love, protection and strength with her throughout her life. The Lord blessed her with life, so she could bring her son and daughter to this earth, and have posterity. The Lord kept her safe and alive so she could bless her family, bless others with her strong spirit and service. The Lord kept her alive so she could continually do genealogy and save the souls of her direct and indirect descendants. She linked hundreds of families together and helped prepare thousands of individuals for their ordinances to be done in God’s holy temples.

Marla will be greatly missed by family, dear friends and ward members for her friendly attitude, her warm smile, her willingness to serve and love others, and her love and service of genealogy. Marla is preceded in death by husband, Daniel Oredson (June 6, 2022) and survived by son Greg Oredson and his wife Sherri Oredson, daughter Kirra Oredson, and grandchildren Jessica Weaver Nelson and husband Russel Nelson, Landon Weaver and wife Amber Weaver, Chase Oredson, Hunter Oredson and wife Audrey Oredson, Avery Hurlock, and MacKenzie Hurlock, and great-grandchildren: Kamree, Jace and Crew Nelson, Harper and Grayson Weaver.

A viewing will be held Friday, June 20, 2025, from 10:00 - 10:45 am, and funeral from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm at the Sandy Crescent Stake Center, 10945 South 1700 East Sandy, UT. Interment will take place following the services at Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery.