Jay Monsen
August 24, 1933 ~ February 10, 2013
Our beloved Father, Grandfather, Great Grandfather and Brother, Jay Monsen, passed away peacefully at his home in Mt. Pleasant, Utah on February 10, 2013. He was struggling to overcome a battle with cancer, which took his mortal life but not his spirit, and he was surrounded by all of his children and many of his grandchildren as he drew his last breath.
Jay was born on August 24, 1933 in Mt. Pleasant, Utah, the oldest of three sons born to Sheldon and Inez Monsen. He spent his early life in Mt. Pleasant, learning to love sports, broadcasting, his country, and the Lord. After graduating from North Sanpete High School in 1951, he attended Snow College. His education was interrupted when he was drafted into the army, and he spent two years, mostly in California, as a medical orderly.
After his stint in the army, he was encouraged to attend BYU, where he studied Communications and Speech. While at BYU, Jay was attracted to the raven-haired beauty, Lauretta Young Monsen, whom he married for eternity on March 9, 1957 in the Manti Temple. Lauretta was his earthly companion for 55 years, until she unexpectedly passed away last Easter Sunday. Dad tried to continue on after her passing, but it was no secret that he missed her dearly, and his sadness was a testament to the love he felt for her.
While in high school, Jay had dreams of being a great basketball player. These dreams were cut short when he didn’t make the team his junior year. Not to be discouraged, he became involved with a radio station at the High School, which operated on a radio transmitter taken from a surplused World War II destroyer. He started calling games in high school and continued on with this vocation at Snow College, and later BYU.
Over the course of his life, he estimated he broadcast over 2500 sporting events. These broadcasts included games with KSUB radio in Cedar City, Utah, when he broadcast many events involving CSU (later SUSC) athletic teams. He also broadcast countless High School games, sometimes doing as many as 8 games a day during the High School State tournaments. After eleven years in Cedar City, Jay spent two years at KSL, and two years working on Congressman Gunn McKay’s staff in Washington, D.C.
In 1972, Jay received a job offer to come and work at KBYU in Provo, Utah. This was the same year that LaVell Edwards became head coach, and Jay had an idea to use the facilities and talent at the University to record and tape delay re-broadcast BYU sports on the University’s PBS station. Like Lavell’s football team, the idea of having basketball and football on TV took off, and Jay became passionately involved with BYU’s athletic teams. His vision and passion became the impetus for the wider coverage that BYU athletics enjoys today. His involvement continued until just a few years ago, when he was still broadcasting BYU’s women’s basketball games, whom he affectionately referred to as “my girls!’
It was a great honor for Jay to be inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame and the BYU Sports Hall of fame, but his great legacy is the one of love and compassion he showed to everyone who crossed his path. He has a very quiet, but strong love of the Gospel, and he served faithfully his whole life in every calling he was given. His two favorites were as Bishop, where he influenced countless youth, and as a Temple worker with his wife in the Manti Temple. He was also involved in countless family gatherings, and he was always there for athletic events, baptisms, weddings, and mission farewells and homecomings.
Jay is survived by his seven children: Sheldon Ronald and Debbie Miller Monsen of Richfield Utah; Jaye Lynn and Mark Robison of Provo, Utah; David Evans and Shellie Moore Monsen of Orem , Utah; Lauri Ann and Ken Grier of Macedon, New York; James William and Karen Cresswell Monsen of Payson, Utah; Joseph Paul and Luciana Rodrigues Monsen of Orem, Utah; and Jeanne and Ramon Elias Tejada of Mt. Pleasant, Utah. He is also survived by 36 Grandchildren and 14 Great Grandchildren, and his two brothers, Stephen and Lois Monsen of Winter Quarters, Iowa, and John and Vi Monsen of North Salt Lake. A special thanks goes to his daughter, Jeanne and her husband, Elias. Their unending love and faithful watchfulness over him these last few months were an example of love that will always be remembered by Jay and the family.
Jay was born on August 24, 1933 in Mt. Pleasant, Utah, the oldest of three sons born to Sheldon and Inez Monsen. He spent his early life in Mt. Pleasant, learning to love sports, broadcasting, his country, and the Lord. After graduating from North Sanpete High School in 1951, he attended Snow College. His education was interrupted when he was drafted into the army, and he spent two years, mostly in California, as a medical orderly.
After his stint in the army, he was encouraged to attend BYU, where he studied Communications and Speech. While at BYU, Jay was attracted to the raven-haired beauty, Lauretta Young Monsen, whom he married for eternity on March 9, 1957 in the Manti Temple. Lauretta was his earthly companion for 55 years, until she unexpectedly passed away last Easter Sunday. Dad tried to continue on after her passing, but it was no secret that he missed her dearly, and his sadness was a testament to the love he felt for her.
While in high school, Jay had dreams of being a great basketball player. These dreams were cut short when he didn’t make the team his junior year. Not to be discouraged, he became involved with a radio station at the High School, which operated on a radio transmitter taken from a surplused World War II destroyer. He started calling games in high school and continued on with this vocation at Snow College, and later BYU.
Over the course of his life, he estimated he broadcast over 2500 sporting events. These broadcasts included games with KSUB radio in Cedar City, Utah, when he broadcast many events involving CSU (later SUSC) athletic teams. He also broadcast countless High School games, sometimes doing as many as 8 games a day during the High School State tournaments. After eleven years in Cedar City, Jay spent two years at KSL, and two years working on Congressman Gunn McKay’s staff in Washington, D.C.
In 1972, Jay received a job offer to come and work at KBYU in Provo, Utah. This was the same year that LaVell Edwards became head coach, and Jay had an idea to use the facilities and talent at the University to record and tape delay re-broadcast BYU sports on the University’s PBS station. Like Lavell’s football team, the idea of having basketball and football on TV took off, and Jay became passionately involved with BYU’s athletic teams. His vision and passion became the impetus for the wider coverage that BYU athletics enjoys today. His involvement continued until just a few years ago, when he was still broadcasting BYU’s women’s basketball games, whom he affectionately referred to as “my girls!’
It was a great honor for Jay to be inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame and the BYU Sports Hall of fame, but his great legacy is the one of love and compassion he showed to everyone who crossed his path. He has a very quiet, but strong love of the Gospel, and he served faithfully his whole life in every calling he was given. His two favorites were as Bishop, where he influenced countless youth, and as a Temple worker with his wife in the Manti Temple. He was also involved in countless family gatherings, and he was always there for athletic events, baptisms, weddings, and mission farewells and homecomings.
Jay is survived by his seven children: Sheldon Ronald and Debbie Miller Monsen of Richfield Utah; Jaye Lynn and Mark Robison of Provo, Utah; David Evans and Shellie Moore Monsen of Orem , Utah; Lauri Ann and Ken Grier of Macedon, New York; James William and Karen Cresswell Monsen of Payson, Utah; Joseph Paul and Luciana Rodrigues Monsen of Orem, Utah; and Jeanne and Ramon Elias Tejada of Mt. Pleasant, Utah. He is also survived by 36 Grandchildren and 14 Great Grandchildren, and his two brothers, Stephen and Lois Monsen of Winter Quarters, Iowa, and John and Vi Monsen of North Salt Lake. A special thanks goes to his daughter, Jeanne and her husband, Elias. Their unending love and faithful watchfulness over him these last few months were an example of love that will always be remembered by Jay and the family.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, February 19th at 11:00 a.m. in Mt. Pleasant, Utah under the direction of Bishop Brotherson of the Mt. Pleasant 3rd Ward (295 South State, Mt. Pleasant, Utah). There will be a viewing at the Church one hour before the funeral, as well as Monday night, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Rasmussen Funeral Home at (96 N 100W, Mt. Pleasant Utah). Interment will be in the Mt. Pleasant City Cemetery.
Winona Zabriskie, 88, of Mount Pleasant, passed away on 19th day of December 2012 in Provo after a full and happy life.
David Cheston Madsen, our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend, died tragically in a construction accident August 22, 2012, in Ephraim Utah. He was born December 21, 1971 in Mt. Pleasant to David & Cheryl Madsen. He graduated from North Sanpete High, class of 1990. He married Brenda Ivory Madsen on April 24, 1992 in Ft. Green and then sealed May 12, 2001. He started his own business, Madsen Plumbing, and enjoyed life working in Construction. Cheston served as a Commander in the Search and Rescue and spent countless hours helping on searches and serving his fellow man. He helped people any chance he got. He also served as a Primary teacher, Young men’s leader, and in the Elders Quorum. Cheston is survived by his parents David & Cheryl Madsen, spouse Brenda Ivory Madsen, Daughters Brylee Rose, Aubrey Mae, Paige Noel, and Macie Mariah, Brothers Ryan(Lorie), Mt Pleasant, Danny, Roosevelt, Josh(Katie), St George, and Tim(Andrea), Moroni. He is preceded in death by grandparents, Shirley & Denice Madsen and Ed & Bessie Lund. Funeral Services will be held Monday August 27, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. in the Mount Pleasant North Stake Center (461 N 300 W). Viewings will be held Sunday August 26, 2012 from 6:00- 8:00 p.m. at Rasmussen Mortuary ( 96 N 100 W, Mt. Pleasant) and from 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. prior to services at the church. Interment will be in the Mt. Pleasant City Cemetery.
1916 ~ 2012
