Dena Rae Gudmundson Gibson

February 28, 1961 to August 9, 2026

Dena Rae Gudmundson Gibson

Born February 28, 1961 ~ Returned to her Heavenly Home August 9, 2026 Dear sweet Dena was born to Darla Rae Walker and Murry Grant Gudmundson in Riverside, California on February 28, 1961, and was the oldest of 5 beautiful sisters, and oh what a bond they all have! They all loved each other more than Diet Coke!!

Dena moved with her family from Riverside, CA to Salt Lake City, UT when she was 2 years old. The family lived in various homes in the Sugarhouse area while growing up. Eventually Dena, her sisters and their mother ended up in Provo, UT where she graduated from Provo High School in 1979. Dena was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served a faithful mission to Cebu, Philippines in 1982. Her life was all about Christlike service and she loved serving in various callings throughout the years. She was most happy when serving others. Service is where she found God and herself.

After high school, she studied fashion merchandising at LDS Business College. She loved fashion and worked in retail for many years. Following another passion for serving others, she worked at different times as a nurse's aide, a technician for special needs children, and for the Arc of Pennsylvania where she coached and advocated for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In her later years, she worked at St. George Rehab where she brightened the day for so many in dire health conditions, and was a 'caregiver extraordinaire' for her dear mother, Darla, for more than 15 years. Dena married John Gibson on December 29, 1994 in the Salt Lake Temple and they lived in Pittsburgh, PA together for many years. After a divorce from John, she moved to Butte, Montana to care for a dear friend (John Anderson) with a terminal illness and help him transition to his heavenly home. After his passing, Dena moved home to Clearfield, Utah where she dedicated her time and efforts to supporting her nieces and nephews, and her mother. Dena called many places home over the years, Bountiful, St. George and New Harmony Utah and most recently Albuquerque, New Mexico. Home, however was wherever she had family and friends to serve.

One of the highlights of Dena's life adventures was going on a temple trip with her mother Darla and her aunt Karen Knudsen in 2022. They called themselves the "Three Eve-ites". They visited more than 10 temples across the state of Utah in just over a week and loved every minute. Dena frequently attended the temple, where she loved the peace that it brought into her life.

Dena is survived by her mother Darla Walker, her father Murry Grant Gudmundson (Valerie); her sisters, Lisa Baptiste and Tracy Gudmundson; brothers-in-law: John Sandberg and Scott Thomas; nieces and nephews: Whitney Alfred, Alexis Baptiste (Tina Rimal), Sadie Cook, Morgan Thomas, Wyatt Thomas (Faith), Logan Thomas (Emma), Caleb Baker, Madyson Mattox, and Kaylee Farrow, along with many uncles, aunts, cousins, and very close friends all of whom Dena loved so so much!

She was preceded in death by her stepfather, Larry Walker; sisters, Kara Thomas (Scott Thomas) and Shari Sandberg (John Sandberg), and nephew Meziah Baker.

Even through years of health struggles, Dena did her best to make sure everyone else was ok. She would check in with daily texts to her sisters and her bestie, Susan Tolman Mitchell. Dena had a huge heart and would never do anything intentional to hurt others. If she felt that she did, or something wasn't right, she would do what she could to make things better, because, "it was the right thing to do". She never wanted to have ill feelings towards anyone or anything. Being around Dena and her spunky silliness at times, always made you feel better and want to do better too!

Dena sacrificed so much for her family and would sometimes put their happiness before her own. I guess that's what happens when you are the oldest and just want to see your sisters and family happy! We will miss Dena beyond measure and hope she is having a grand ol' time with her sisters, Kara and Shari! We love you Dena!

A viewing will be held on Saturday, August 29th at 10:00 a.m. with funeral service following at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Clearfield 2nd Ward 1245 South 1175 East, Clearfield, Utah. For those unable to attend in person, a zoom link will be provided. Following the services, Dena will be buried at the Evergreen Memorial Park in Ogden Utah.

https://myers-mortuary.com/obituaries/dena-gibson