Constance Jean Jenkins

Constance (Connie) passed away at home on December 27th, 2023 surrounded by her family. Connie was born in Long Beach, California on October 21st, 1940 to Gwendolyn Pearl (Troutner) Edmiston and Eugene (Bud) Ellis Edmiston. She has two sisters, Diana Lee Edmiston (Knowles/Dargatz) who was 2 years older, and Debra Lynn Edmiston (Bagley) who is 11 years her junior.

Connie suffered the loss of both parents early in life. Her father died when she was 17 and her mother passed away when she was 28 years old. Her father’s death, in particular, was very formative. She often wished that her dad could have met her husband and seven children.

After the tragic death of her father, Connie sought answers to difficult questions. Her quest for peace and understanding led her to join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints which changed the course of her life.

After her first year at BYU, Connie returned home to be with her mother and sister. It was during this time that she went on a legendary first date with a handsome 18-year-old named Jim Jenkins who was 3 years her junior. During that date, Jim’s MG broke down and they ended up pushing the car together even though Connie was wearing a dress and heels.

Connie was beautiful and Jim was intrigued by her infectious personality. This quickly led to conversations about religion and Connie encouraged Jim to learn more about her new-found faith. Jim was initially reluctant but eventually decided to join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as well. Although he would often joke that he did this to improve his chances with Connie, the reality is that joining the church was exactly what Jim needed. It changed him and made him better. It also unified them in purpose and they married in the Los Angeles Temple 15 months later on September 6th 1963, when Jim was 19 and Connie was 22.

In hindsight, Jim and Connie’s first date is the perfect metaphor for their 60+ years of life together. They pushed together in everything they did. They were unusually united which allowed them to quietly accomplish incredible things.

During their first 9 years of marriage, Jim gained as much education as he could. They began at BYU where Jim earned a Master's Degree in Economics. This was followed by another 5 years in West Lafayette, Indiana where Jim obtained a PhD in Finance from Purdue University.

Early in their marriage, Connie and Jim lived on $2,000 a year. During this time their three oldest children were born and Connie’s sister Debbie joined the family as a senior in high school after their mother died of cancer. Even though these were meager times financially Connie and Jim always remembered them fondly.

After finishing his schooling, Jim taught Finance at the University of Utah and later at BYU.

In 1982, Jim had an idea that he believed could become the basis for a new kind of company - a software business. Jim asked Connie if she would be willing to take a risk even though he had little practical business experience and 7 children living at home. As always, Connie was enthusiastically supportive, so they started Sterling Wentworth Corporation which was perhaps Utah’s first FinTech company.

Building the business was more difficult and expensive than expected. Several times, personal and corporate bankruptcy were real possibilities. When stress was at its maximum and when the future looked bleak, Connie said to Jim “We have been at zero before and we were happy. If we lose our car or home, that’s no big deal. We will still be happy. We will just start over.” Then Connie did something amazing. She told Jim that she would like to start selling software for the fledgling company. Just like on their first date, when something was stuck, Connie got out and pushed. Throughout their marriage, it was Connie who was the steadying force. She was the rock - especially during the hardest times.

Partly because of Connie’s natural sales acumen and tenacity, the company’s trajectory changed, became profitable, and eventually sold to a publicly traded company. Sterling Wentworth Corporation succeeded beyond Connie and Jim’s wildest hopes and dreams. Their risk-taking and labor paid off, setting the stage for something remarkable. Over the next 10 years, Connie and Jim started or funded more than a dozen other companies. They quietly became two of the most successful entrepreneurs in Utah and inspired dozens of others to find similar success.

Along the way, Connie tried to make everything in her life beautiful. She may be most remembered for the home she built on Spring Lane that she lovingly called “The Farmhouse”. It was masterfully crafted and came to symbolize what was important to her. It seemed like she tried to construct her version of Heaven while still on Earth. It’s unlikely that anyone who walked through her home or into her garden ever forgot the experience. Everything was beautiful and reinforced her love and commitment to family.

At the age of 47, she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis - a condition she knew would degrade her life over time. Not once did she complain and she never wanted sympathy. She fought it and fought it and fought it. In her later years, to the chagrin of her family, she refused to sit in a wheelchair even when she could barely walk. She insisted on using her own two feet. She never gave an inch to the disease.

Connie was kind and compassionate but she was also tough and lived life unafraid. She held and often vocalized strong opinions. She was never a “wallflower”. She was willing to take risks and bet big. She was fiercely loyal to her country, faith, and family.

She wanted to be at all of her children’s sporting events and was usually among the most vocal people in the crowd. She loved to can fruit and vegetables, grow flowers in outdoor pots, tie quilts, and cook for her large family. She loved Christmas and was an unrealistic BYU football fan. She loved to watch the Utah Jazz and she sometimes felt that she understood her sons better than her daughters.

Connie’s legacy will last for generations. She and Jim started a family that currently consists of 68 people who love her and who will honor her by continuing the many family traditions she created.

Connie is survived by her husband of 60 years, James Wentworth Jenkins, and their 7 children; Chantel LaRae Gunther (Russ), Cary Porter Jenkins (Barbara Jane), James Blair Jenkins (Laura), Price Eugene Jenkins (Kristalyn), Sterling Paul Jenkins (Elizabeth), Aspen Dunn (Ian) and Spencer McKay Jenkins (Kate). She is also survived by her sister Debra Bagley (Lynn). Connie has 29 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren with another 3 on the way.

A viewing will be held Tuesday, January 2nd, 2023 from 10am to 11:45am at the Cottonwood 12th Ward building, 1750 East Spring Lane, Holladay, Utah. Services will follow at 12pm at the same location.

Connie will be interred at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park - 3401 South Highland Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah.