Our dear sister, aunt, and friend Nancy Ann Betenson, age 78, passed away peacefully on January 28, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Nancy was born March 6, 1943 in Maywood, California to Scott Parker and Mariam Brinkerhoff Betenson.  She grew up with one brother and two sisters, who she loved dearly.  Her family moved to Kanab, UT when she was about three and she graduated from Kanab High School in 1961.  She lived most of her adult life in Provo, UT where she was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
 Nancy was a hard worker, loved learning, and spent a great deal of time in the Kanab library as a young girl.  The librarian once called home to report that Nancy was reading books the librarian felt were too mature for a young girl!  This same love of learning and thirst for adventure took Nancy all over the United States and to Europe a number of times on trips with her mother and close friends.  Travel was a way for Nancy to make memories with those closest to her and she always made sure to return from her trips with gifts, crafts, artwork, and photos to help her remember those adventures. 
 As a young girl, Nancy developed a strong work ethic working alongside her parents, who managed the Kanab movie theater.  Later, Nancy completed hair school and nursing school.  She cherished the relationships she built with her “ladies” that came to have their hair cut, washed, and styled in her home salon.  She was also a loving and caring nurse to the students she served at the Provo Canyon School until a traumatic arm injury forced her to cut her nursing and hair styling careers short.   
 Never one to pass up an opportunity to learn a new skill, Nancy took a course on candy-making and chocolate-dipping from a neighbor and legend in the candy-making scene, Pauline Atkinson.  Nancy’s homemade and hand-dipped chocolates and caramels were a favorite among her family, friends, and neighbors, particularly at Christmas.  Nancy also loved to treat her family to a meal at Chuck-a-Rama, Golden Corral, or Mi Ranchito.
 For most of her life, Nancy had at least one dog (sometimes three) and spoiled them like everyone else in her life.  They were her friends, her bed partners, her comic relief, and responsible for most of her gray hairs (“Dammit Buffy!”).  Nancy certainly believed the adage that “All dogs go to heaven” (even Buffy) and is most certainly staying busy walking them all on the other side.
 One of Nancy’s greatest joys was spoiling her nieces and nephews, and she did it well.  Weekends with Nancy were a highlight and included outdoor plays at the SCERA shell, afternoon movies with plenty of theater snacks, trips to the BYU Bean Museum, lunch at the Pizza Factory, and lots and lots of sweet treats and card games.  Whether it was a weekend stay, or just a quick drop-in, she always made sure everyone left with a delicious treat (and that their mothers left with a Diet Coke).  Nancy loved her nieces and nephews, and right up until the week she passed, those visits were highlights for her.  She cared about their lives; enjoyed their stories, cards, and artwork; and always made sure they knew they were loved.  She was like a bonus grandmother to us all.  
 Nancy’s greatest and deepest love was for her parents.  She exchanged frequent notes and letters with them, called regularly, always worried about them, and even had to be told by her mother to stop sending them money!  Later in life, Nancy was the primary caretaker for her parents for a number of years and did everything she could to make them comfortable.  It was emblematic of her lifelong desire to help others feel loved and feel comfortable.
 One of a long line of strong, independent, outspoken Southern Utah women, one of Nancy’s last statements was “I’m too old and mean for the ‘Cova’ to get me!”  We’ll all miss her mischievous smile, her quick wit, and her boundless love dearly.
 Nancy is survived by her two sisters -- Elaine Pratt, Fredonia, AZ; and Jill (Doug) Bunting, Salt Lake City, UT; and countless nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Wade Betenson.
 Nancy’s funeral service will be held Saturday, February 5, at 9:00 a.m. at Mosdell Mortuary, in Kanab, UT. She will be buried next to her parents in the Kanab City Cemetery under the direction of Mosdell Mortuary.