May 16, 1937 – December 31, 2020 (age 83)
On December 31, 2020 Velma Marchene Nielsen Bywater, of Murray, Utah passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her family.
Marchene was born in Salt Lake City on May 16, 1937 to her late parents C. Morton Nielsen and Velma Pauline Malmgren. She and her brother Mike grew up in Van Nuys, California and mingled with many movie stars as their parents worked as interior decorators in the Beverly Hills and San Fernando Valley.
Shortly after high school graduation, Marchene packed up her belongings and headed out to Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah to further her education. She was a member of the Kappa Delta sorority and many of these sweet sorority sisters have remained in close contact with “Mish” throughout her life.
While at BYU, mom met and married her eternal companion Harold Daniel Bywater in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on August 15, 1960.
Marchene graduated from Brigham Young University in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education. She taught 3rd grade at Arlington Elementary School (which is now the Murray City Hall) in Murray, Utah for one year.
Marchene and Harold started raising their young family in California but moved to Smithfield, Utah in 1977 where they enjoyed living near family and the bucolic setting of a small town. Marchene loved to improve everything she touched and created a beautiful English style garden surrounded by quaking aspens at their family home. It is in Smithfield that she loved volunteering her time and talents at the local historical museum and hosting getaways at the family cabin in Logan Canyon. Marchene and Harold loved to travel and adventured across the globe. Marchene’s last and perhaps favorite trip was to Ireland, her ancestral home, in 2014 with her husband and children.
Marchene’s career and greatest love was best described as a stay-at-home mother where she raised six children; Shauna, Debi, Lisa, David, Rebecca and Julianna to love God, listen to the Spirit and love others unconditionally. Marchene’s second career spanned 60 years alongside her husband Harold advising in their mutual real estate ventures, remodeling/restoring homes and managing their rentals. These activities expanded her role as mother and facilitated teaching her children, the “B” team, the value of hard work, thriftiness and exemplifying “quality”.
Marchene was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served the church in various capacities, but relished their mission in Greenville, North Carolina where she served as the area advisor for the Lambda Delta Sigma sorority. Because they TRULY LOVED THEIR FAMILY, following their mission they returned to Utah to enjoy their children and grandchildren by supporting and attending every event they could.
Marchene is survived by her brother Mike (Jolene) Nielsen, her children Shauna (Patrick) Garey of Bountiful, Utah; Debi (Joseph) Brown of Holladay, Utah; Lisa Edens of Taylorsville, Utah; David (Stephanie) Bywater of Holladay, Utah; Rebecca (Morgan) Selph of Murray, Utah; and Julianna (Lance) Walker of Smithfield, Utah; siblings Chris (Michelle) Nielsen, Kathy Nielsen-Bizek and stepmother Margaret Nielsen.
Marchene had great love for her grandchildren Megan, Nicole, Sean, Tanner, Garrick, Collin, Seth, Madi, Makenzie, Nathan, Daniel, Morgan, Taylor, Bradley, Hailey, Brinley, Ben, Amanda, Emma, Adam, Brianna, Soren, Caden, Beau, Issac, and Mason and 8 great-grandchildren. Marchene was preceded in death by her loving husband Harold, her parents C. Morton and Velma Pauline Nielsen and granddaughter Chelsea Edens.
A viewing was held at the Farm Hill LDS Ward at 1250 East Murray Holladay Road, (4800 South), Murray, Utah at 10:00am. The funeral service followed at 11:00am on Thursday, January 7, 2021.
The graveside service followed at Memorial Holladay Cemetery, 4900 South Memory Lane, Holladay, Utah.
Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at Memorial Mortuaries.