Jennie Sue Andersen

Born Jennie Sue Smith on March 27, 1938 to George E. Smith and Bernice Miller in Milford, Utah, Beaver County. Jennie was raised in Milford on the family farm with her four siblings Georgia, Lean, Marsha and Theo.

Jennie was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on March 1, 1947 and enjoyed being a part of many youth activities in the church.

She was very involved with the Utah 4-H Club from 1948 until she graduated from Milford High in 1956 as a member and leader. She won many awards at the Utah State Fair, South Milford Fair and other 4-H events which provided her with some unique opportunities.

In 1956 she won 1st place in the meal preparation contest at the 4-H Ceturmama Utah State Fair in Salt Lake City. As a result of this win she attended the National 4-H Congress in Chicago as the state food preparation winner.

After she graduated high school in 1956; She attended the College of Southern Utah, now Southern Utah University. After a year she transferred to the University of Utah.

In 1961 she got her nursing degree and a public health job in Cache County, Utah. Jennie was called to serve a mission in England in November of 1963. She returned in 1965 shortly before her mother passed away in July 1965. After working in Milford for a short time she returned to the University of Utah to pursue a Masters in nursing.

Once she received her master’s degree in nursing she moved to Southern, California at the invitation of Tormod Andersen who she had started dating while in school, she had been introduced to Tormod by his sister-in-law Rayloa Andersen, one of Jennie’s classmates and friends.

In California, Jennie worked as a nurse at the Los Angeles County Hospital – University of Southern California Medical Center in Los Angeles as an administrative nurse in the pediatrics division.

A short time later she and Tormod were married on August 14, 1970 in the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

After their marriage Jennie continued to work at the hospital until shortly before their first daughter Suzanne was born. Jennie enjoyed being a homemaker and raising their five children, Suzanne, Joanne, Tormod Jr., Mariane and Peter.

She and Tormod Sr. spent most of their married life in Southern California; with a short stent in Washington state where they thought they would buy a mortuary but it wasn’t meant to be.

She was very involved in her children’s education, volunteering in the kids’ classes and with the PTA. Although she had a young family, Jennie kept her nursing license up for many years. She volunteered for the Red Cross, teaching parenting classes and other services as needed. And will forever be known as the Avon Lady.

In 1985 they moved from Redondo Beach to Torrance, California to live on top of Rice Mortuary. Living on the top of a Mortuary wasn’t new. When they were first married they lived over the Hermosa Beach Mortuary. However this time Tormod wasn’t the only one working for the Mortuary. Jennie worked as a mortuary attendant for Rice Mortuary until she retired in 2002.

In 2002 Jennie retired and they were called to serve a mission in Sweden. Later they would serve as Pathway Missionaries. Both through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Throughout her life Jennie was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served willingly in many capacities in the church..

When Tormod became ill Jennie resumed the role of nurse along with loving wife and mother. She cared for Tormod until he fell in February of 2020. Tormod’s fall was hard for Jennie and she struggled after his death in May 2020 with depression. As difficult as this was in spring of 2022 she was diagnosed with lymphoma. She chose to have chemo treatments, however, after four treatments the PET scan showed some response but not as much as the doctors would have hoped. Jennie decided to discontinue treatment. She passed away on August 27, 2022.

She is survived by her five children and eight grandchildren: Suzanne (Aaron) Thomas; Joanne (William) Anders; Tormod (Christi) Tormod 3rd; Marianne; Peter (Melinda) Maren, Luke, Evan, Kent, and Matilda.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on September 24, 2022 at 22605 Kent Ave., Torrance, California.