Obituary: Lillian Geertsen Blodgett Wilson

Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Nov 7, 2004

1915 ~ 2004

Lillian Geertsen Blodgett Wilson, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and daughter of God, has been mercifully taken home to that Heavenly Father whom she loved and served so devotedly. She is finally with those of her family who have gone before her.

Mom was born February 19, 1915, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Joseph Geertsen and Marie Magdalene Andersen Geertsen. Her lovely, lily- white complexion prompted her mother to name her for this flower.

She attended West High School, from which she graduated at 16 years because of her excellent scholastic abilities. She also graduated from LDS Business College as a stenographer. She worked many years for the U.S. Bureau of Mines at the University of Utah.

She married George Virl Blodgett in 1934. Later divorced. She met Stephen Ray Wilson, a co-worker at the Bureau of Mines, and they were married on October 12, 1950. He preceded her in death on May 9, 1999.

Mom was a devout member of the LDS Church, in which she did much service. She has been a Primary secretary, Primary teacher, young women's teacher and visiting teacher. Her greatest service as a teacher and an example, however, was to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We owe our own valiant testimonies of Jesus Christ to her. She loved the gospel more than life itself. She also was a teacher to our friends. She took many opportunities to share the gospel with them.

Mom was an artist. Her painted portrayals of nature adorn her home and ours. She also was an excellent seamstress. She sewed late into the night many times to complete dance and Halloween costumes or prom dresses. She had a wonderful sense of humor. Our family outings always were times to laugh and joke with one another.

Mom is preceded in death by her husband Steve, her parents, her sisters Genevieve, Edna, Grace and Helen, and her brothers Joseph, Harold, Ronald and Ralph. She is survived by her children Claudia Blodgett Curtis (Blaine), Stephen David Wilson (Teresa), Roger Barry Wilson (LuAnn) and Laurie Jean Wilson-Bell (Timothy). She is also survived by her brother Eugene C. Geertsen as well as 16 grandchildren, 16 great-grand-children and many nieces and nephews, who loved her dearly.

Funeral services will be held at the Highland View Ward (2980 South 2790 East) on November 8, 2004, at 11 a.m. Friends may call from 6-8 p.m. on November 7, 2004, at the Cottonwood Mortuary at 4670 South Highland Drive, and November 8 at 10 a.m. at the Highland View Ward. Interment will be at the Mount Olivet Cemetery.