Marilyn Mickelson Jesperson

Marilyn Mickelson Jesperson, 84, of Salt Lake City, Utah, passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, December 6, 2025, with her beloved wife and daughter by her side.

Born November 5, 1941, in Salinas, California, to Reece and Rayola Mickelson. She married David Jesperson in 1963 (later divorced) and in 1981, while working at Holy Cross Hospital, she met the love of her life, Lisa Deschamps. They were married in 2013 on Orcas Island, WA.

From that moment on, Marilyn and Lisa built a life filled with joy, laughter, and adventure. Together, they traveled the world with open hearts and an eagerness for discovery. They touched the inside of a whale’s mouth off the coast of Mexico, fished for piranha in the Amazon River, and experienced the sacred beauty of Istanbul, Turkey. Every trip reflected Marilyn’s boundless curiosity and her belief that life was meant to be lived fully and bravely.

Marilyn became a Registered Nurse in 1983, and throughout her long career, she cared for her patients with compassion, gentleness, and skill. She worked at several hospitals before retiring from St. Mark’s, leaving behind a legacy of kindness that her colleagues and patients never forgot.

A voracious reader and lifelong learner, Marilyn also poured her heart into gardening. After retirement, she became a Certified Master Gardener and bonsai artist, transforming her yard into a lush, peaceful sanctuary where friends and family found comfort, beauty, and often a bit of gardening wisdom. Marilyn was a proud member of the Leech Lake Ladies Club.

Preceded in death by her parents. Her brother, John, passed in 2014. Marilyn is survived by her devoted wife, Lisa; her sister, Pattie Dix (Dan) of Corvallis, OR; her children, Christine Harvey (Brent) of Sandy, UT, and Brett Jesperson (Stephanie) of Highlands Ranch, CO; mother-in-law Dorothy John of Logan, UT; her sisters-in-law, Dena Demler (Shannon) of Wellsville, UT, and Debbie Mickelson of Spring, TX; numerous nieces and nephews. She was a proud and loving grandmother to four grandchildren she adored beyond measure: Zachary and Zoey Harvey, and Ava and Max Jesperson.  She is survived by her cherished friends Brian Johnson and Chris “Nurse” Williams, and the many life-long friends made during her career.

A celebration of Marilyn’s life will be held on January 8, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East, Millcreek, UT.  Guests are encouraged to use the parking and entrance on the north side of the building.

Please join Marilyn’s family and friends in January, to lift a glass in honor of a life richly and beautifully lived.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a contribution in memory of Marilyn to The National Ability Center: https://discovernac.org/donate/