Venice Yvonne Madsen Rogers

Venice Yvonne Madsen Rogers was born in Pocatello, Idaho, on January 20, 1943. After a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer, on Sunday, June 11, 2023, she returned to her Heavenly Father surrounded by her family and loved ones.

Venice was born in one of the worst snowstorms in decades, but that didn’t stop her mother from braving the weather and traveling to her Pocatello-based doctor two hours away from their home in Salt Lake City. That unassailable steadfastness is a trait that Venice inherited from her beloved mother and displayed throughout the many storms that manifested in her life.

Venice spent her formative years in Lehi, Utah. When she was 11, the family moved to Rose Park in SLC, where she met her lifelong friend Carolyn Morgan. Venice had a gift for learning and a work ethic to maximize it. In high school, a select group of seven graduating seniors could receive top commendations, among which were Poetry, Writing, ROTC, Intramural Sports, and Top GPA. Venice received top honors in all categories except ROTC, for which she was ineligible, and graduated from West High School Summa Cum Laude.

Venice earned a scholarship to BYU and attended for a semester before she was selected for another scholarship to study at the Sorbonne in Paris. She worked at Hercules for a year to pay her way to France. Studying abroad was the genesis of her love of travel and learning about the world. She hopped on a train to NYC and, from there, boarded a ship bound for Rotterdam. She spent three weeks exploring Europe until she made her way to the Sorbonne in France. She graduated with a certificate in Music and French literature. Upon returning home, she graduated from the U of U, earning a double bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance and French. She later received a Master of Arts in American History and a Ph.D. ABD in Russian and Middle Eastern History. Venice was a lifelong learner, an avid reader, and had an insatiable curiosity for learning more about the world.

Venice married and was sealed to Howard Rogers on July 12, 1963. Venice and Howard had six children, and it was in motherhood that Venice displayed her greatest strengths and abilities. She was a loving and patient mother who adored her children and worked tirelessly to enrich their lives through education, music, travel, creating unique life experiences, and, most of all, instilling in them a great love and appreciation for Jesus Christ and His gospel. Venice was a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and loved her Savior deeply.

Despite her unassuming nature, Venice had a gift for performing. Her musical talents were a large part of her identity. She was in the Tabernacle Choir for several years and was an accomplished concert pianist who loved performing for audiences worldwide. More than performing, she loved teaching. She taught piano starting at the age of 13, right up until she passed away. Her students were more than pupils; they were her friends who loved and appreciated the mentoring she provided to them. She was the ultimate nurturer who had the patience and steadfastness to help all those around her to grow in diverse ways.

Venice was a world traveler and visited every continent, including Antarctica. She loved meeting new people and learning about their customs and how they lived. She befriended people from all over the world. Her home was a refuge for not only her family but for pianists from South America, dancers from Israel, foreign exchange students from Japan, travelers from Russia, and so many other wonderful people from all walks of life who came to stay with her.

Much of Venice’s time was spent in service for the LDS Church in Relief Society and YW and Primary Presidencies. However, the bulk of her service centered around testifying of Jesus Christ through music. She made many life-long friends in the church music service, including one of her best friends, Carol Jean Summerhays who was at her side for much of that music-based service. Venice’s most important service was to her family, and her incredible legacy of service will endure for generations to come.

Venice was preceded in death by her daughter Katharine Kimberley Rogers Ellis and husband Howard Brain Rogers. She is survived by her children: Jon (Leslie), Elizabeth (Rick), Richard (Amy), Stephen (Natalie), and James (Alecia); grandchildren: Ian, Alexandra (Otavio), Rachel, Christian; Parker (Callie), Sam (Sydney), Alec; Joshua (Harper), Jacob, Matthew (Iolanda), Kaleb, Abigail, Noah; Michael, Andrew, Nicholas (Erika); Luke, Katelynn, Brody, Jaxon; Sadie, Stockton, Grayson; and great-grandchildren: Katharine Daisy and Jasper.

Viewings will be held on Friday, June 16th, from 6-8 pm at Larkin Mortuary, 260 E South Temple, SLC 84103 & Saturday from 9-10:45 am at the Hilltop Ward, 589 E 18th Ave, Salt Lake City, UT 84111, followed by the funeral service at 11 am. Interment at Salt Lake City Cemetery. You may watch the service online through Zoom using the following link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84680319223

You must be logged in to your Zoom account to be able to watch the service. To create a free account, please visit www.Zoom.us.

We would like to thank Larkin Mortuary for their tender care of our mother.

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