Arlene Coon

Arlene Elenor Pesina Coon, 89, passed away on December 19, 2015, in Bountiful, Utah. She was born March 26, 1926, in Hutchinson, Minnesota, to Edward Pesina and Sophia Konerza.

While training as an Army nurse cadet at St. Olaf College in Minnesota, she met Arnold Wilding Coon, a Navy airman in pre-flight training there. After only one week together, they spent the next three years in a long-distance courtship, finally marrying on July 8, 1947, in Silver Lake, Minnesota. Her wedding dress was made out of dad’s parachute from the war. “A war brought them together, and a parachute sealed their love.” They were later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on February 20, 1953. He died May 31, 2007.

Dad brought mom to Salt Lake so he could finish his education. With her nursing degree, she worked at the Salt Lake County Hospital until she started her family. After that, she used her nursing skills and experience to bless the lives of many throughout the years, with medical service to neighbors, volunteer work at St. Mark’s Hospital, LDS Missionary Department, and the first aid station for General Conference in the Tabernacle.

From 1991-93 she and dad had a service mission in the South Gate Ward of the South Salt Lake Stake. After having sent five children on missions, they had the opportunity of their own missionary experience and enjoyed it very much.

After her baptism in 1952, mom was an active member of the LDS Church and served in many capacities, including Education Counselor to five different Relief Society presidents throughout her 50 years as a member of the Holladay/Mt. Olympus 7th Ward. Her life was one of service and compassion to her family and others. She was firm in her testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Survived by children: Steve (Jan), Anchorage, Alaska; Debbie (Rick) Worthen, Layton; Gary (Ann), Redmond, Washington; Lori (Thor) Duffin, Leander, Texas; and Heidi (Dennis) Wheatley, Brigham City; 33 grandchildren, and 42 great-grandchildren.

Preceded in death by her husband, parents, brother Harold, sister Ione, sons Greg and Mark, and infant great-granddaughter Emily Frazier.

Special thanks to the wonderful staff at The Inn at Barton Creek and South Davis Home Health and Hospice for the loving care they gave our mother for almost seven years.

Funeral Services will be held at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park Chapel on Tuesday, December 29, 2015 at 11 am with visitation from 10:00 – 10:45 am.

We love you mom, and will miss your sweet, caring spirit. Your grandchildren and great-grandchildren were so lucky to have been blessed by your testimony and valiancy. You will be missed.