Lorna was born January 9, 1929 to Jesse Mabel Chappell Nilsson and Edwin Locton Nilsson. She was the fourth of seven girls, ( in addition to 3 children either stillborn or died in early infancy.) She lived in South Salt Lake on Crystal Avenue. She loved to play and always had her sisters and mother around. Her father travelled a lot giving music lessons. He taught her how to play the violin. She attended school in the Granite school district and was an alumnus of Granite High. Her passion was reading. It opened up the world to her. She wanted to learn to fly airplanes but was unable to because she wore glasses. In high school she really liked boys and used her feminine charms to date a boy named Hershel so she could drive his light blue convertible (not really attracted to Hershel!) After high school she worked for the phone company and as a bookkeeper.
When she turned 21, she made the decision to go on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She was called to the Great Lakes Mission. In the mission home in Salt Lake she was struggling to complete her taxes before leaving. A young man who was going to the Netherlands on his mission saw her and offered his help. This missionary was Don Rapier, her eternal companion. They corresponded all throughout their missions, fell in love and were married 6 weeks after he returned. He even bought her a diamond in Amsterdam before he came back which she wore the rest of her life. They moved to Southern California after their marriage because Don had accepted a job there. In order to make ends meet they lived in a small apartment above a mortuary, with Don helping to receive the deceased. Soon they added 3 girls, 2 boys and a dear Navajo sister Carole Tsosie Croxton, who joined their family in 1970. By this time Lorna and Don had moved to Brea, in Orange County, CA. We were also blessed with Jerry Rapier living with us on occasion in his high school years and look back at the laughter and practical jokes with fondness.
While living in Brea, Lorna pursued a college degree in the 70's, received a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education at Cal State Fullerton, and also earned her teaching certificate. She had a special affinity for grades K-2.
In 1992, Don and Lorna were called to the Paramaribo, Suriname Mission. The mission was very challenging, and Don could still speak the Dutch language. Don and Lorna considered their time there a great success.
There weren't too many TV shows on Paramaribo television. Lorna and Don watched a LOT of Inspector Gadget. They begged, in their letters sent home, to send video tapes of ANY good shows that they could view instead of Inspector Gadget!!!
After their mission, Don and Lorna decided to sell their home and they moved to Temecula, CA. While in Temecula, they both became Temple workers at the San Diego Temple. They were blessed abundantly during this time in their life.
Due to family circumstances, she stepped up to the mother duties with various grandchildren. Lorna always said she thought she would never travel but after her children left the nest, Don got the travel bug and with their very best friends, Gene and Lois McDaniel, took to cruise ship vacations. She loved those trips and said that Hawaii was her favorite place to be.
Don died eleven years ago, and the passing years have been difficult for mom. She was losing her sight due to macular degeneration, which limited her Family Feud viewing, and she couldn't hear without her hearing aids. Lorna has missed Don terribly and her family is happy that she is now reunited with him.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2019 at the Parkway 5th Ward, 10206 South 3200 West in South Jordan Beginning at Noon. A viewing will be held prior to services beginning at 10:30 AM. Interment will take place on Monday, March 25, 2019 at 11:00AM at the Utah Veterans Memorial Park.
