Tonia Lee Stallings Jensen

Tonia Lee Stallings Jensen passed away at home August 19, 2024, in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was born September 30, 1934, in Salt Lake (LDS Hospital), the first of five daughters to Miriam Thurston and Hart Leon Stallings. 

Toni spent her formative years attending Whittier and Uintah Elementary, Roosevelt Jr. High, and East High schools. She spent her summers during her high school years working at Bryce Canyon.

She began her college education at the University of Utah (U). She took ballet and participated in the Spring Ballet. She spent her second year at Brigham Young University (BYU) where she participated in Val Norn. She returned to the U to finish her studies. During her years there Toni was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority. In 1956, she graduated with a major in Elementary Education and minor in English and Art. 

Upon graduation she went to work for the summer in upstate New York at a camp for underprivileged children. She then moved to Palo Alto, California and began her teaching career teaching fifth grade in Newark California. In 1957, Toni retuned to Salt Lake and began teaching fourth grade at Rosslyn Heights Elementary.

Later that year, Tonia was selected to sing for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. She sang and traveled with the choir for seven years until she had her second child.

Toni married Jay Ellsworth Jensen in the Salt Lake Temple on July 28, 1958. They made their home in the avenues and were blessed with six children, 36 grandchildren, and 31 great grandchildren. 

She was a follower of Jesus Christ and member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saints. She attended and built many relationships in the Ivins, Bonneville, Garden Park, Ensign, and Wasatch 6th wards throughout her life. She spent over 30 years as a Primary Chorister working with music and children. She later worked as an ordinance worker with Jay, and after his passing, for many years in the Salt Lake Temple.

She is survived by her six children and their spouses, Lauri Jo (Robert) Moncur, Richard (Shawna), Christian (Lynda), Carrie (Anthony) Lowe, David (Rulayne), and Steven (Jodi), and other family and friends who will remember her with love and admiration.

Funeral services will be Saturday, August 31, 2024, Wasatch 6th Ward, 1930 South 2100 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108: 

Family (only) viewing – 10:30 am

Funeral – 11:30 am

Family (only) luncheon – 12:30 pm

Internment/Gravesite – 2:30 pm Salt Lake City Cemetery (11th Avenue farthest west entrance)

Thank you to Cannon Mortuary – www.cannonmortuary.com