Mona Reenee (Olson) Bottema was welcomed into the arms of her Savior in Tooele, Utah, Nov. 29, 2021, at the age of 90 years old. Mona was born at home, 2331 S. 600 East, and delivered by her grandmother Sunday, July 26, 1931, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Ruth Bunnell Griggs and Kenneth Olson. As a child, she was raised in the cities of Boise, Idaho, Salt Lake City, Utah, and various locations in Southern California. She graduated early from East High School in 1948. In 1950 she married Albert Gerrit Bottema, later divorced.
Mona received a bachelor’s degree in 1960 from the University of Utah and began her decades-long career as an educator. Her career initially took her and her two children, Albert and Barbara, to Roosevelt, Utah, in 1960 where she worked as a 3rd Grade teacher from 1960–1963 at Roosevelt Elementary. In 1963 she was hired as a librarian at Todd Elementary and West Junior High in Roosevelt. In 1964 the family moved to Tooele, Utah, where she resided for the remainder of her life. She was hired as the librarian for the newly built Tooele Junior High School, a position she held for 23 years. She also taught English and science courses at TJHS. During this time, she obtained her master’s degree in library science from Brigham Young University in 1984. Following her retirement in 1987, she served full-time as a missionary in the California San Jose Mission. Mona felt it a privilege to spread the message of Jesus Christ whom she patterned her life after and loved. She served faithfully in many positions within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, her favorite being Young Women’s camp director and any calling that involved roadshows.
Her love for reading and writing extended beyond the workplace. She had a personal library her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren each enjoyed, frequently borrowing books. She edited numerous papers and helped with school projects. The importance of obtaining an education was passed on to her posterity, as she was the editor of many papers and the project manager for many school projects for them. Next to her love of literature was her love of gardening. She valued a well-kept yard, spending countless hours outside cultivating her gardens.
She is survived by her son Albert (Dorothy) Bottema of Tooele; her daughter Barbara (Paul) Yardley of Allen, Texas; her bonus daughter and caregiver Nina Quintana, Tooele. She is also survived by her grandchildren Jacci (Nate) Christensen, Donald Yei, Jenn (Shane) Hinton, Alyson (Ty) Tate, Karen (Phillip) Ware, Bethany (Josh) McIntyre, Mariah (Justin) Leeson, and Nathan Yardley (Jon Puzzoli); 16 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; and her siblings Kenneth L. Olson and Sue (Rick) Quinn. She was preceded in death by her parents and nephew Joey Quinn.
Funeral service will be held Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, at 12 p.m., with a viewing prior from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m., at the Tooele Utah North Stake Center, 580 N. 270 East, Tooele, Utah. Interment will be in the Tooele City Cemetery following the service.