Our beautiful mother Betty Jean Nelson has gone to reunite with the love of her life after fifty-six years of separation. Daddy proposed on their first date, which was on Thanksgiving Day. We are so happy to think this Thanksgiving they will be dinning together. Betty was born October 4, 1925 in Cleveland, Idaho to George Edward Smith and Vera Fern Anderson; she passed away November 21, 2015 due complications following surgery. She was the oldest of six children. Her family moved to Preston, ID where she grew up. Betty grew up helping tend to her siblings and thinning beets in the fields. She was very smart and ambitious; while attending Preston High School, she received perfect grades and worked at the local movie theater and at Anderson Lumber. She also took flying lessons and gained her certificate while living in Preston. Our mother, Betty, later moved to Cedar City, UT to help her Aunt Manda while Manda’s husband was out tending to their sheep. She also worked for several accounting firms until she met our father Douglas H. Nelson. They were married on January 18, 1946, just six weeks after they met. At that point she became a wife and a mother. On their 14th wedding anniversary, our mother became a young widow and had to raise her four small children on her own. Mom went back to school to receive her Associate’s degree in Business. After receiving her degree she went to work for the State Liquor Store where she kept their books; she also ended her working career at Job Service where she had made many lifelong friends and was presented with the Utah State Secretary award for all of her outstanding service. Mom was extremely talented and loved to paint ceramics, crochet afghans, quilt amazing blankets and tat beautiful doilies for her family and friends. She also loved to work in her yard and took great pride in her flowers and her adorable red barn house. She was a great neighbor to have and loved them all, especially the older widows she took care of. Our mother didn’t consider anyone a stranger and loved to visit and help anyone in need. We can’t begin to count the number of people she brought home to join us for Thanksgiving Dinner, other people she served by purchasing crafts from them when they came in to Job Service, or the many people she gave money to freely. Our mother was always there for each of us in every way, but her greatest joy was when the grandbabies were born and she was able to help take care of them and their young mothers. Mom was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where she served many callings in the Primary, Sunday School and Relief Society. She was also a member of the Lady Elks Lodge. Mom was the bravest, kindest, toughest and sometimes bossiest, but we believe she was the best mother, grandmother and friend in the entire world. We love her very much for all she sacrificed for us and will be missed terribly until we reunite with her, Daddy and our other loved ones who have passed. She is survived by her children Vicky Lynn Miller of Las Vegas, NV; Eddy D. Nelson (Fieainna) of Cedar City, UT; Michael W. Nelson (Janet) of Cedar City, UT; Cheri Steele (Robert L. Jr) of Ivins, UT; brothers Leon “Bud” and Evon Smith of Missoula, MT; Reid Smith (Peggy) of Preston, ID; Ronald Smith of Idaho Falls, ID; brother-in-law Thaylon Hobbs of Idaho Falls, ID; 10 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren. Betty is preceded in death by her husband Doug; Doug’s parents Art and Iva Nelson; her parents Ed & Vera Smith; sisters Margret Smith and Mary Lu Hobbs; her grandparents; aunts and uncles; and by her special friend Alton Ford of Kanarraville, UT. Funeral services will be held Monday, November 30, 2015 at 11:00 am at the 4th North Chapel (500 W 400 N, Cedar City, UT). Viewing will be held Sunday evening, November 29th from 5-7 pm at Southern Utah Mortuary (190 N 300 W, Cedar City). On Monday, November 30th a viewing will be held at the church from 9:30-10:30 am. Interment will be in the Cedar City Cemetery under the direction of Southern Utah Mortuary. Online condolences can be made at www.sumortuary.com. The family would like to thank Kolob Regional Care Center for their kind and loving care that they provided for our dear Mother. We would also like to thank Brenda from Zion’s Way Hospice, Dr. Sutherland and the entire ICU Staff at Valley View Medical Center for all their compassion and care.