Nedra Blackburn Duzett

Our sweet mother, grandma, sister, and friend Nedra, passed away unexpectedly on September 11, 2025 at the age of 92 just days prior to her 93rd birthday and 75th wedding anniversary to her sweetheart, Berg.

On Saturday September 25, 1932 on a beautiful fall evening in the small town of Emery, Utah, a special event was taking place. Dorthella Jensen and Alma Hicks Blackburn were welcoming their first child, a red-haired baby girl named Nedra. She was born in the front parlor of her Grandma and Grandpa Jensen’s home as her parents were living there due to conditions of the great depression. She was the first grandchild in both her grandparent’s families.

Nedra was the oldest of six children followed by one sister and four brothers. She adored her siblings and they were a close-knit family her entire life. Nedra loved being with her Jensen and Blackburn cousins, aunts, and uncles, and she cherished spending time with family in Emery and on vacations to Rabbit Valley and Fish Lake.

Nedra had a passion for learning. She enjoyed school and reading, continuing to gain knowledge throughout her entire life. Her favorite gift to give everyone was a good book. She loved the scriptures and studied them every day.

Nedra loved to dance and grew up going to town dances. She always made sure a handsome young man named Berg was on her dance card. Berg and Nedra began courting while in High School and the highlight of their courtship was being in the “All Church Dance Festival” held at the University of Utah football stadium. Their romance continued and Berg proposed the night Nedra graduated from high school on May 17, 1950.

Nedra and Berg were endowed and sealed for time and all eternity in the Manti Temple on September 15, 1950, followed by a four-day honeymoon to Sun Valley, Idaho. Upon their return from their honeymoon, Berg received a letter of “Greetings from the President” that would impact them for the rest of their lives. Berg had been drafted to the Korean War and had to report to Fort Douglas on October 13, 1950, less than a month after being married.

A year later, in October 1951, Nedra received a telegram from the War Department that Berg had been wounded.

This was a difficult time of life for Nedra but a time of growth that gave her strength, fortitude, and resolve that endured her entire life. Shortly after Berg’s departure to Korea, Nedra moved to an apartment in Salt Lake City with a girl from Emery that was just one block from LDS Business College. She got a part-time job working at ZCMI and took classes at the Business College. She could see the Salt Lake Temple from her apartment window and she enjoyed spending time at Temple Square. The temple gave her great peace during this time.

Following the war, Berg and Nedra spent happier times living in Colorado Springs, Colorado before returning to settle down in Salt Lake City. In June of 1956, they moved into their home in Holladay where they raised their family and remained for the rest of their lives.

Nedra’s children and grandchildren were her greatest joy. In June of 1957, Lori was born followed by LeAnn, Janae, and Todd over a span of 12 years. She enjoyed raising her children in her home, teaching them the gospel and the value of hard work. She loved providing homemade meals, especially with vegetables from her garden. She showed her love to others by providing food from her garden or a loaf of freshly baked homemade bread. One of her favorite meals was homemade bread and milk.

Nedra’s grandchildren brought her great happiness. She looked forward to grandchildren (cousin’s) sleepovers with the grandkids sleeping under the quilting frame tent. Grandma treated them with a delicious breakfast of eggs and homemade pancakes. Nedra loved spending time with her family and had a very busy schedule attending every baptism, birthday, concert, game, or performance that she could. Most important to her however, was teaching them the gospel through her example.

After raising her children, Nedra worked at the Legislative Auditor’s Office and then the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel at the State Capitol. She especially enjoyed working with legislators and attorneys drafting and making bills for the state. Every winter, she spent six weeks at the Legislative Session and after retirement continued to work for the State Senate during the Legislative Session. Nedra loved her country and the constitution deeply and loved being a part of the legislative process.

Nedra was a passionate missionary to everyone she met. She would ask everyone if they had read the Book of Mormon and bear her testimony. Sh did this with great love. One of the greatest experiences of her life was the opportunity she had to serve a proselyting mission with Berg to the Richmond, Virginia Mission. Their entire mission was spent in the Albermarle Branch in Edenton, North Carolina. Edenton, the Branch members, and friends there will remain dear to Nedra’s heart forever. Nedra also had the opportunity to serve as a host missionary at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. She loved the prophet Joseph and loved hosting people in this beautiful building.

Nedra was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints her entire life. She served in many callings in the auxiliaries of the church but spent many decades serving in Relief Society in all capacities including Relief Society President for many years.

A highlight of her life was attending the dedicatory services of the “Monument to Women” in Nauvoo, Illinois dedicated by President Spencer W. Kimball in June of 1978. Nedra exemplified the Relief Society motto of “Charity Never Faileth” as she showed compassionate service to all around her. Nedra gained a testimony early in her life and that testimony never wavered and her favorite thing about Christmas was sharing her testimony with her family.

Nedra loved her family, her Heavenly Father and her Savior. She was a joy to be around and fun to be with until the very end of her life. She exemplified having a young spirit by having and making friends of all ages.

Nedra is survived by: her children Lori (Talmage) Pond, LeAnn (Randy) Gray, Janae (Dennis) Owen, and Todd (Lara) Duzett; her dear 19 grandchildren and 56 great grandchildren; and her siblings, Gayle Jorgensen, Hicks Blackburn, Dwight Blackburn, and Donn Blackburn. She was preceded in death by her husband H. Berg Duzett, 5 precious great grandchildren, her parents, Alma and Dorthella Blackburn, her brother Dennis Blackburn and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral Services will be held on Friday, September 19th at 11:00 a.m. at the Olympus 3rd Ward Building, 4100 South Camille Street, Holladay, Utah. A viewing will be held prior to the services from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the same location. A viewing will also be held on Thursday evening September 18th, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Olympus 3rd Ward building.

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