Nellie Grace Grosjean Wadsworth
LOGAN, UTAH: Nellie Grace Grosjean Wadsworth, 101,
passed away April 12, 2006, at Logan Nursing and
Rehabilitation Center with her daughter, Nancy, at her
side. She was born in Montpelier, Idaho, on Nov. 14,
1904, to Emil Charles and Lena Bertha Trussel
Grosjean.
She was the oldest of two children, having a brother,
Albert. At ten years of age she started taking piano
lessons. She continued throughout high school where
she was the accompanist for assemblies.
She graduated from high school and in 1923 began
working as a sales clerk in the Golden Rule Store.
Eventually, the owner offered her employment at his
store in Logan. She worked and attended the BY
College part time. During this time she took piano
lessons from Prof. Clark. In August 1926 she met her
husband, Harold Frederick Maughan Wadsworth. They were
married June 27, 1928, in the Logan Temple. Three
children were born to them: H. Wayne (Laila) of Salt
Lake City; Joyce (Dan) Durrant of Phoenix, Arizona;
and Nancy (Louis) Griffin of North Logan. Currently
there are 13 grandchildren, 44 great-grandchildren,
and 3 great, great-grandchildren .
Following their marriage, they moved to Cowley,
Wyoming, for two years where Harold taught high
school. They then moved to Beaver, Utah, where he
taught two more years. The next move was to North
Cache High School in Richmond. At this time, Nellie
taught piano lessons to several young children. Harold
was called into active duty during World War II. They
lived at Lowry Field Air Base where Harold was the
Post Maintenance Officer of the Army Air Force. While
living on the army base, Nellie contracted rheumatic
fever and was bed ridden for four months.
At the
conclusion of the war, they moved back to Richmond,
but only for a short time. In 1946 Harold accepted the
position of Director of Physical Plant Operations at
Utah State University, and they moved to Logan.
Always active in the LDS Church, she served in the
YWMIA as secretary-treasurer when she was a teenager.
She was a Primary teacher for over 10 years and taught
several years in the YWMIA. She again served as
secretary, second, and first counselors in the Relief
Society. At the age of 69 she graduated from the LDS
Institute. In Nov. 1974 she and her husband served for
18 months in the Florida Tampa Mission. Upon
returning, Nellie was called to serve as the Music
Specialist for the 10th Ward. She served in this
position for nearly 20 years.
When she moved to the
Williamsburg Retirement Center, she was the organist
for the branch until January 2006. She also was the
accompanist for the weekly "Sing-a-Long" group until
the week before her passing.
Harold passed away in March 1985. Following his death,
Nellie became very active at the Senior Citizen Center
where she played the piano and organ for 15 years. She
also provided music for AARP and the Ladies Auxiliary
for Disabled Veterans. In 1992 she received the Silver
Bowl Award from Governor Norm Bangerter. This award
recognized the service which she had rendered these
organizations.
In November 1986, Nellie married Lee Peterson. She
enjoyed playing the piano with him as he played his
violin. Due to diabetes, Lee eventually moved to
Sunshine Terrace where he died. After moving to
Williamsburg, she met Warren Hansen. They were
married and enjoyed 18 months together before his
passing.
In the early years of her marriage, the care of her
children took precedence over everything else. In her
later years she honored her parents by her unfaltering
love and care for them on a daily basis over a period
of many years. She was preceded in death by her
husbands, parents, and brother.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday,
April 22nd, at the Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 East
Center, Logan, with Branch President Rex Thompson
conducting. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday
at the mortuary and from 10:00 to 11 :00 a.m. Saturday
at the mortuary for the viewing. Burial will be in the
Logan Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family
at Allen Mortuaries.