Marjory Edna Nelson Rohlfing died on Saturday, January 2, 2016 at age 95. She was born on April 23, 1920 in Salt Lake City, UT, and was the oldest of four children born to Marion C. Nelson and Edna Anderson Nelson.
Marjory grew up in Salt Lake City where she attended Douglas Elementary, Roosevelt Jr. High, and East High schools. She graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Arts in secondary education, with a major in music and a minor in English. She formed many life-long friendships at Douglas and Roosevelt, where twelve girls formed the "Quad-G" group, which has remained intact as closest friends since junior high days.
It was at the U where she met her husband, Robert F. Rohlfing. They were married on November 14, 1941, with the marriage solemnized on December 10, 1941 in the Salt Lake Temple. Mom and Dad were inseparable for 52 years, until his death from cancer in 1993. They enjoyed many shared interests and groups of friends during those 52 years, and music was a big part of those associations. Dad was a well-known jazz pianist, with his own dance orchestra for many years. Mom was a very accomplished classical pianist, and was the first president of the Piano Club, an organization of talented pianists.
Mom and Dad were avid golfing pals. They joined the Oakridge Country Club in 1957, where she was president of the Oakridge Ladies Association. They later joined the Salt Lake Country Club, where they enjoyed so many activities and friendships together. She also was a longtime member of the Town Club, and loved luncheons, socializing and playing bridge with wonderful friends there, as well as at the Country Club.
Mom has enjoyed her service in the Church throughout her life, including many years as piano accompanist for the Singing Mothers, ward choir and Relief Society, plus Cub Scout den mother and ward newspaper co-editor.
Mom was devoted to her family, and always made her sons top priority during their growing up years, working in PTA, Cub Scouts, and providing a loving and beautiful home. Mom was always very compassionate and thoughtful of others, which was so evident in her love for her family.
Mom loved to travel, and has fond memories of trips to Europe, Africa, Cuba, Canada, Alaska, Hawaii and all over the western USA. She also loved attending concerts and plays, and held Utah Symphony tickets since 1941. She attended a great many of those events with her son John, who has been her traveling companion since Dad passed away.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and her brother Robert H. Nelson. She is survived by her two sons John Nelson Rohlfing and Thomas Robert Rohlfing (Laurel), and by her brother President Russell M. Nelson, and sister Enid Nelson DeBirk. She is also survived by two grandchildren, Bryan Rohlfing and Amy Rohlfing Duke, by seven great-grandchildren, and a wonderful extended family of nieces and nephews. She always looked so forward to any occasion to be together with the family.
We wish to express sincere thanks to those who have provided such good care for Mom in recent years, especially the dedicated staff at Sunrise Senior Living Center and Solstice Hospice. A viewing will be held at Larkin Sunset Lawn mortuary (2350 E 1300 S) from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Tuesday evening January 5th, and on Wednesday from 9:30 until 10:45 a.m. at the Parleys Third Ward chapel, 2625 Stringham Avenue (2295 South) in Salt Lake City. Funeral services will follow at 11:00 at the chapel. Interment will be at the Wasatch Lawn Cemetery (3401 S Highland Drive).
