Ida Mockli Jorgenson passed away on the morning of April 14, 2019, at the age of 94. She is survived by her loving husband of 59 years, Stanley C. Jorgenson, her stepdaughter, Tamara, her grandsons, Jeremy, Brandon, and Christopher, and her many loving nieces and nephews. Ida was the youngest of 15 children in the Henry and Frieda Mockli family. When her mother passed away while Ida was a baby, she was raised by her father and by her older siblings. Growing up in the farming community of Egypt, near Preston, Idaho, Ida learned, along with her brothers and sisters, to work hard and to work even harder at making their own fun. During these years, Ida was sought after for her ability to deliver strikes to frustrated batters in games of fast pitch softball. She never lost her love of sport. She was an avid skier for much of her life. She loved to be found on the links and she energetically chased that little white ball around golf courses into her nineties. Though many will remember her for her great compassion, Ida was a strong-willed woman and full of sand. She knew how to stand up for herself. This combination of traits expressed themselves in interesting ways during golf matches. Her competitive instincts made her into one of the nicest but most effective trash talkers you could imagine. Ida was never shy about planting doubt into her golfing partner’s head. Somehow, she managed her magical mind tricks with such charmingly sinister skill that people could only admire her gamesmanship and look forward to the next time they could play a round of golf with her.

Ida’s high school years overlapped the war years as she saw many of her brothers sent overseas to the European and Pacific Theaters. Upon graduation, Ida’s ambition was to become a nurse. Her country’s needs provided the opportunity for her to acquire a nursing education and to serve her country at the same time. Ida served in the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps during the war years. This was the beginning of a long nursing career serving in many different capacities in the health professions. Ida completed her initial nursing studies at Salt Lake General Hospital in 1946. Following the war, Ida worked at the Preston Hospital where the small size of the institution required a broad and versatile skill set. It was at Preston Hospital where she welcomed many of her relatives’ babies into the world.

Ida interrupted her working career to travel to England as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While proselyting and serving the Saints in England, she had the opportunity to preach at the historical Speaker’s Corner in Hyde Park. Ida’s willingness to volunteer her time and energy for the mission of her church never abated. After retirement she served as a volunteer at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building for many years as she described her time there as one of the highlights of her week.

Upon her return from her mission, Ida moved to Salt Lake City where she worked at the VA Hospital. It was there that she met her future husband, Stan Jorgenson, who was working as an aide at the hospital. He often helped her with her troublesome patients. The relationship deepened between them beyond that of colleagues until it grew to plans for marriage. Stan left temporarily to complete his police training in Texas while Ida pursued further studies in nursing. When Stan returned to Salt Lake City to begin his career in law enforcement, Ida was transitioning to serving in community outreach and screening programs. Ida and Stan remained partners in love, companionship, and adventure in the years to come sharing their hospitality with innumerable friends and family. During their marriage, Ida and Stan were fortunate to stay connected to Stan’s daughter Tamara, and, as time passed, to become proud grandparents to Tamara’s sons, Jeremy, Brandon, and Christopher. In time, those boys would start their own families and introduce yet one more generation to Ida’s unbounded energy and enthusiasm. And somehow, she still had time for her many nieces and nephews who loved their visits with Aunt Ida. She had a big heart for a big family. And it was hard not to believe you must be her favorite when you were around her. That is how much she embraced every member of her family (although that never prevented her from needling us to keep us from getting too big for our britches).

A few words will never sum up a personality as big as Ida shared with all who met her. These paragraphs can only point out a few of the key moments and people in her life. However, those she has touched, those who remember her, will fill in the details that have been left out of this story. She exhibited an enthusiasm for life and a compassion for others that inspired many generations. Her story will be carried forward in the hearts of those she loved and who loved her in return. Ida, you will be missed. Your energy, your love of life, will always be infectious. Peace be unto you.

A viewing will be held at the Canyon Rim 2nd Ward (3100 E 3000 South, SLC) on Thursday, 6:00 – 8:00 pm, and Friday, 10:00 – 10:45 am. Funeral services will follow at 11:00 am.