Cheryl Spence
Cheryl Spence
1938 ~ 2024
Cheryl Christensen Spence was born in Salt Lake City in 1938 to Jens Seely Christensen and Arlean Snarr Christensen of Magna, Utah. Cheryl had three beloved siblings and older sister, Darlean (Gary), a younger sister, Kathy (Jerry), and younger brother, J. Dale Christensen (Linda). Cheryl grew up in Magna, Utah, and graduated from Cyprus High School. In 1955, Cheryl became engaged to marry her high school sweetheart, Lynn Murray Spence. Cheryl was always happy to describe how she waited two years for Lynn to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She wrote weekly letters to him, and six weeks after he returned, they were married and sealed together for all eternity in the Salt Lake City Temple.
Cheryl mothered, trained, taught and loved her six children. She taught them to love the Lord, and to love and take care of one another. Because Lynn’s work required him to travel half the month for his entire career, she spent many days as the only parent at home—always with love, raising her children. On top of it all, Cheryl served in many time-consuming Ward and Stake church callings and responsibilities. She served as Relief Society President, as well as leadership roles in the Primary and Young Women’s organizations. She loved singing and especially children’s songs and demonstrated that love by volunteering and teaching music in local schools. Later in life she became a legal secretary. She could type faster than most can talk.
Cheryl was an exceptionally stalwart witness of the life, teachings, and atonement of Jesus Christ throughout her whole life. After Lynn retired, they moved to Alpine Utah and made this their final home base. Once established in Alpine, Lynn and Cheryl served two missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They served in the Florida Jacksonville Mission from 2001-02, and later in the Michigan Detroit Mission from 2007-08. Cheryl loved doing the Lord’s work. She served the Lord by serving all those around her to the very end.
On February 8, 2024, Cheryl was released from her earthly calling, having served valiantly and with an incomprehensible love and kindness to all of God’s children. She was blessed to be given the ability to choose when it was time to leave this earth, to reunite with her beloved husband, Lynn, whom she loved so much. She was unmistakenly greeted by him, her mother and father, her two sisters, and countless other loved ones who preceded her beyond the veil. We know she will continue doing the work of the Lord there, bringing joy to those around her.
Cheryl is survived by her brother J. Dale (Linda), her children Jeannine (Rich), David, Michele (Rich), Melanie (Robert), Murray (Amber), and Justin (Marie), 21 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Cheryl will be held on Saturday, February 17, 2024 at 2:00 pm in the Alpine 3rd Ward Chapel, located at 285 North Matterhorn Drive Alpine, Utah. Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation on Saturday afternoon from 12:30-1:30 pm prior to services at the Alpine 3rd Ward Chapel. She will be buried next to her beloved husband in the Alpine City Cemetery in Alpine, Utah.