1934 ~ 2025
Mary Louise Pemberton Henderson, 91, passed away September 2, 2025, in Sandy Utah.
Mary Lou was born February 5, 1934, in Billings, Montana to Herschel Clifton Pemberton and Minnie Elizabeth Zurbuchen. Her family moved to Rock Springs Wyoming and she graduated from Rock Springs High School in 1952. She was a member of the National Honor Society and was proficient on the alto saxophone.
Mary Lou worked as a Stenographer and Typist for School District Number Four for seven years. She married Leslie Fred Henderson on September 14, 1958, and they moved to Provo, Utah where Mary Lou worked for a year as a Stenographer and Typist for a car dealership while her husband completed his college degree. They returned to Rock Springs where Mary Lou worked for Western Wyoming Community College as an Administrative Assistant for three years.
Mary Lou then took on the most challenging and undervalued of jobs, which was raising three children and managing the home. She provided unconditional love to her family, was an excellent cook, kept an impeccably clean home, and was a selfless caregiver to her family. She was a thoughtful and wise mother who provided after school snacks, assistance with homework, a listening ear, and would complete housework while singing and dancing to whatever music her kids were into.
Mary Lou was active in the community and was a member and officer in the Rock Springs Women’s Club, P.E.O. Chapter BC, and Christian Women’s Club. She ran the Lending Closet for the Women’s Club for many years, including through the pandemic so that residents could obtain needed medical equipment. Mary Lou was a member of the First Congregational Church and, in her later years, the Rock Springs Methodist Church.
Mary Lou is preceded in death by her husband, Les; parents, Herschel and Minnie Pemberton; and brother, Jim Pemberton. She is survived by her three children, Bob and wife Melanie Henderson; Cindy Henderson; Laurie and husband Dave Wesely; four grandchildren, Anya and Lauren Wesely; Sierra Jones; Hannah and husband Brad Nelson, and four great grandchildren, Xiliah and Xadie Mahmood; Naomi and Landon Nelson.
Private services for the immediate family will be held at a later date, as will the interment at the Rock Springs Cemetery in Rock Springs, Wyoming. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local food bank as Mary Lou nourished her family and friends and would not want anyone to go hungry.
Mary Lou was kind and the family would like to encourage everyone to be kind to one another.