Glenda Mathews

     Our beautiful sister, favorite aunt, and dearest friend, Glenda Bernice Mathews, age 68, returned home to the loving arms of her Heavenly Father on Sunday, August 23, 2026, following a courageous 10-month battle with cancer.
    Glenda was born on June 23, 1958, in Salt Lake City, to Charles Berdett and Ingebjorg “Inger” Brunsvik Mathews. She spent the first 2 years of her childhood in Park City, Utah. Our family later moved to Mt. Emmons before settling in Upalco, Utah, where Glenda grew up on our dairy farm.
    She had a keen and inquisitive mind and was involved in numerous activities throughout her years at Altamont High School. She graduated as valedictorian in 1976. She built a career as a bookkeeper, and her intelligence, dependability, and attention to detail served her well.
    Glenda had an unwavering faith in and a strong testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ which sustained her through the many challenges she faced.  She served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the California Arcadia Mission from 1980 to 1981.  Her humble discipleship and Christlike service remained a constant throughout all the years of her life.
    She lived a beautiful life filled with love, genuine kindness, and selfless service. She quietly looked for opportunities to serve others, without seeking recognition.
    Her neighbors knew they could count on her. Following any snowstorms, they would  find that Glenda had already shoveled their walks.  She had a generous and thoughtful nature, and many neighbors and friends enjoyed the bounty of her garden, her homemade jams, and whatever other resource she had to share. Whenever she saw a need, she simply found a way to help.
    Glenda had a remarkable gift for making everyone feel as though they were her dearest friend—and she had many.  Her nieces and nephews were among her greatest fans, and she loved each of them dearly, along with her grand nieces and nephews.  They will carry with them countless treasured memories of time spent with her. It was always a great day when Aunt Glenda came to visit.
    Glenda’s light, like her brilliant smile, will continue to glow in the hearts of everyone who knew and loved her. She was a truly authentic and genuine soul whose generous, sweet, and loving spirit was a hallmark of her life.  Her passing has left a whole in our hearts and she will be deeply missed.
    Glenda and our family extend endless gratitude to our devoted brothers, Sven and Fred, and their selfless wives, Dora and Renate, for the loving care and service they gave her while she stayed in their homes during her courageous battle. Special gratitude is also extended to all of her many, many friends who loved and supported her, too many to name, her dearest sister-like friends, Diane,  Danene, and Arlene, for their unwavering loyalty, love, and sacrifices throughout this journey. A very special and heartfelt thank you to her dear friend, Joan Sperry, whose beautiful and inspired words were used to help compose this obituary.  We are deeply grateful to the dedicated and compassionate doctors and nurses who cared for Glenda and brought comfort and dignity to her during her hospital and hospice care.
    Glenda is survived by her brothers, Sven Wersland (Dora) and Fred Brunsvik (Renate); her sisters, Lily Brunsvik Caron, Evelyn Mathews Day (Daniel), and Elaine Mathews Despain; and many beloved nieces, nephews, and grand nieces and nephews.       She was preceded in death by her parents, her older sister, Hjordis Yordis  “Yogi” Wersland Brunsvik Nielsen; her brothers-in-law Douglas Eugene Nielsen; and Keven M. Despain; her nephew, Mikal Ames Wersland, and her niece Mindy Jean Brunsvik Stevens.  
    Glenda will be interred in the Upalco, Utah Cemetery, on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, where a short graveside service will be held at 2:00 pm