Gladys Irene Sorensen Nelson passed away Monday, January 21, 2019 surrounded by her loving family. In November she celebrated her 102 birthday along with children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and friends with happiness and enthusiasm. Born in Malad, Idaho November 9, 1916, Gladys was the second of four children born to Ammon A. and Cora Nancy Hardman Sorensen. She was educated in schools in Arbon Valley and Malad, Idaho. Graduating from Malad High School.
While attending B.Y.U., she met her future husband Milton Andrew Nelson. They married in the Salt Lake Temple August 25, 1936. That fall they moved to Delta, Utah, where her husband taught at Delta High School. It was here, as she substituted and worked with the teenagers, that she discovered her devotion to young people and education.
Two years later they moved to Spanish Fork. Again she substituted while she completed a degree in English and Education. She taught two unforgettable years at Springville High School before beginning her long teaching career at Provo High School. Here she introduced and taught the Advanced Placement English Program with great success. One year every student in the class passed the Advanced Placement test and received college credit in English. For this achievement she received a letter of commendation from the State Board of Education. She also taught college preparatory English and speech classes. She also assisted with Provo High Sterling Scholars.
When Timpview High School opened in 1978, she was one of the teachers selected from the Provo High School faculty to teach at the new high school. Most of her classes she taught at Timpview were Advanced Placement English. She served as the director of the Sterling Scholar program. One year she qualified 11 of the 12 Scholars for state competition. Here she was selected “Teacher of the Year.”
Gladys was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She used her teaching talent as she taught in many auxiliaries. She especially enjoyed teaching classes in Relief Society and being a visiting teacher.
Her hands were always busy creating beautiful handwork. While living in Delta she learned how to crochet. She also loved knitting, embroidering, and quilt making. She enjoyed yard work, especially working in her beautiful rose gardens. After her husband’s death she was able to travel, both abroad and in the states.
Her greatest joy was her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Gary Milton (Diane) Nelson and their five children, Riverton, Utah; Dr. DeVon A. (Pat) Nelson and their six children, Mapleton, Utah; Nancy Ellen (David) Jorgensen and their three children, Springville, Utah; Denielle Nelson (Wells) Brockbank and their five children, Spanish Fork, Utah. She was a great grandma to 35 great grandchildren. Many lovingly called her Grandma GG. Her husband Milton preceded her in death December 29, 1981. Also, a granddaughter and great granddaughter preceded her in death.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 26, at the LDS Church building located at 1167 South 1700 East, Spanish Fork, Utah at 2:00 p.m. A viewing will be held from 1:00-1:45 p.m. prior to services.
In lieu of flowers, please contribute to The Perpetual Education Fund through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
www.walkerspanishfork.com/obit/gladys-irene-sorensen-nelson/
Sam Fletcher
What an amazing life. She inspired so many. Surely one of my favorite teachers.
David Lundberg
My friends and I who were in Mrs. Nelson's class called her "Gladys" amongst ourselves, which was the only teacher we "honored" by discussing her by her first name. She was certainly a grand influence for me. I relished her fabulous enthusiasm for the subjects we studied. Particularly memorable, during our study of Beowulf, was her sharing the experience of trying "just a little taste" of mead (the honey based alcoholic drink integral to the Beowulf story) when she was traveling in the UK. I'll also never forget how she lauded the beautiful catches of Lynn Swann in class the day after the Superbowl. While I suspect she was doing what she could to keep the attention of the boys in class, I don't doubt her sincere appreciation of the athletic artistry by the sheer exuberance of her recounting. I always smile when I think of her. Thank you for your gifts to us, Gladys!
Kevin Gull
Thanks Sam and Dave for making your recent wonderful comments about Mrs. Nelson (I don't know how I missed seeing the news of her passing + her obituary being shared on this message board).
Mrs. Nelson had a big influence on not only my days at Timpview but even more so -- my days since. Even after all these many years, there aren't too many days that go by that I don't use something that she taught or something I experienced from her AP English class.
She truly knew how to reach us, how to relate her lessons to experiences that we might be having or find might interesting and exciting.
She was a phenomenal teacher.
I think we all had it pretty good -- at least for me. The years at THS and that time growing up in Provo seemed to me to be a bit like Camelot (to put it into Mrs. Nelson's terms). I look at the world today and feel sorry for what so many teenagers are going through in comparison to what we experienced and enjoyed.
Thank you "Gladys" for your positive influence and helping make my high school days that much more memorable and fun -- all the while passing on your appreciation and knowledge of not just your assigned subject but more so, your zest for learning.
God Bless.
Eric Keith
I loved reading Sam, Dave and Kevin's comments about Gladys--certainly my favorite teacher from high school. My older brothers and sisters all had her as well, so she's a common point of reference in our high school experience, which is nice.
Although I initially got my degree in the tech field, I eventually gravitated back to communications and writing, primarily due to Gladys' influence on me. She was a gem of a teacher.
I have to admit that regrettably, I didn't absorb as much knowledge from her as I could and should have, due to the fact that I sat next to Scott Hymas and he would not stop talking to me! Consequently, she would often chastise both of us--but in the kindest and most gentle way possible. Gladys, I will apologize to you properly when we see each other again. Thank you.
Sharon Hill (Goodman)
I, too enjoyed reading everyone's comments about Gladys. It makes me chuckle to see so many guys express their love and appreciation for her. She always did have a special place in her heart for her male students and it seems the feeling is mutual. I remember the day she announced the names of the students who scored a 5 on the AP Test. She called out "David Lundberg" with immense confidence and her whole face beamed with pride. I think she secretly harbored on crush on him (But then, who didn't?) He was one of her "favorites"! And then, with almost a look of disbelief, she stated my name. (Don't worry, I've gotten over it - can't you tell?!). But seriously, she was an amazing teacher and I, too, have been greatly blessed, in every aspect of my life, by the influence she had on my ability to share my thoughts through the written word. Sadly, it feels like that is becoming a lost art in our society.
Ann Peterson (Hartvigsen)
Hi, Everyone! I also loved Gladys Nelson.
What a pint-sized firecracker, right? We were always interested in what outfit she would be wearing each day because she hadn't changed weight in like 50 years, so she had quite the wardrobe! She was spunky and beautiful, and had that quiet, engaging voice and bright, motherly smile.
She showed us how to manage her classroom through competence, gentleness, and class and that really stuck with me.
She brought her A Game for us every day and showed us what it was like to be passionate about her job! She loved us and helped us to feel good about ourselves and what we could add to the world ahead of us! I think that we've all contributed quite well.
She lived to be 102! Not a surprise, at all! What a gal! We love you, Mrs. Nelson (Gladys)!
Dave Metcalf
Loved all of your comments and agree with everything said! Not sure how I missed this post previously, but I would feel remiss if I didn't add my own comment to honor Gladys Nelson. She was definitely my favorite and most memorable teacher. She had a passion and love for teaching, but even more then this was her passion and love for her students and I really felt this. I learned so many things from her but it's the good feelings I felt from her are what I remember most. Her confidence in all of us continues to stay with me.
Craig Hughes
So good to hear from Sam and Dave and Eric. I am grateful that I know such good men.
I too am sorry I missed Gladys Nelson's memories by such a long time. Gladys Nelson was my favorite teacher. I will never forget her instructions on how to read a poem: "Always read a poem out loud and three times: the first time to get a basic sense of the poem, a second time to really study the meaning of the poem, and a third time for pure enjoyment." She instilled in me a love of poetry, and I think of her every time I read a poem. She was the epitome of a great teacher.
With that said, I felt a real kinship with everyone who wrote a memory here. Sam was always a good friend, even when I wasn't always. Dave was an inspiration on committment and self-discipline. My next door neighbor took state in the 100 meter freestyle, breaking a state woman's record, and I told her, "I knew a guy . . . .!!" I was light years from Dave as a swimmer (unquestionably the worst swimmer on the Provo High team as a sophomore), but I have been getting in 2,000 to 3,000 yards in every other day at the Bountiful Rec Center. Eric has been kind to me from the time I was 9 or 10 years old living in Pinegar Apartments in Provo and going to Maesar Elementary School. Eric has continued to be kind even very recently in helping my 19 year old son in good ways.
I can't fully express the emotions I felt reading all the comments. Thank you!
Craig Hughes
David Neuenswander
Ahhhh....Gladys Nelsen. What a gem of a teacher! Frankly, I was more excited to be in the class because I sat next to Lori P, Tracy A, and Sue P. I really did not expect much from Gladys, and wow was I wrong! I still remember her face when she played music from the Flight of the Valkyries and she introduced me to "Animal Farm" and other classics. For some unknown reason which is a mystery to me to this day, I always did well in English as it came naturally to me and I had A's in HS and College. I could afford to be a joker in class and still pull an A for the semester. Gladys had the last laugh as I got 96% for the semester and she gave me a D! I still laugh at that to this day as it is the only D I ever got and probaby deserved!
Markae Fullmer (Evans)
How did we miss this? Gladys Nelson was my alltime favorite teacher, I loved AP English because of her. I too remember her outfits, and it was worth it to go to class everyday just to see her coordinated dresses and shoes. She was a class act, always so kind and loving, and taught us with humor and skill. I credit a big part of my love for reading to Gladys Nelson. I never would have applied for Sterling Scholar in Homemaking (is that even a thing anymore?) if it weren't for her encouragement. It is not hard to believe that she lived to be 102, she lived life with such grace. Thanks for the example of your life, Gladys, I will never forget your influence.