Paula Swenson Sorenson

Our sweet and beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and sister, Paula Swensen Sorenson passed away in Lubbock, TX on January 14, 2020 surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Ontario, Oregon on November 10, 1946 to Max Clayton and Lucie Wheeler Swensen. She married Ritchie Lee Sorenson on May 29, 1971 in the Manti, Utah Temple. Paula’s faith was expressed in her devotion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She not only served her family with kindness and strength, but was a friend and mom to many people. Her way with people was easy, comforting and pleasant. Her love for nature came early. She and her siblings dug tunnels in a nearby field (later collapsed some under new construction) and released frogs in the home of the neighborhood crank. She harnessed her enthusiasm to obtain a degree in horticulture from Brigham Young University. She loved to garden, grow house plants, visit arboretums and discover new plants while traveling. And, she used binoculars to watch birds, turtles and ducklings in the pond outside her window. While at BYU, she met the love her life, Ritchie Lee Sorenson, while working at Durfey’s Dry Cleaners in Provo, Utah. Their whirlwind romance included fender benders in two different cars as Ritchie “tried” to impress Paula. This worked “smashingly” well, and they were married on May 29th, 1971. Paula made a very wise choice marrying Ritchie. They were faithful and loving companions throughout their almost 50 years together. They supported each other through 5 college degrees between them, raising 5 children and living in 5 different states—providing mutual support through life’s rollercoaster of highs and lows. Paula and Ritchie’s devotion to one another and their family was evident the last 2 years of Paula’s life. On January 1, 2018, Paula had the first of two debilitating strokes. Ritchie did everything he could think of to help Paula recover. Paula did her best, but was limited by a weak heart, a life-long condition. Near the end, Paula was very fragile but wanted to go on a long-planned cruise with Ritchie and her children and grandchildren. She willed herself to go. Then . . . within two weeks of returning home, she slipped away. Now, free from her weakened body, Paula will be waiting with open arms for her family to join her and her mother in “doing a jig together on a table-top in heaven.” Paula is proceeded in death by her parents, Max and Lucie. She leaves behind a great legacy including her husband, Ritchie Lee; her children Rebecca (Aaron) Greene, Sarah (Paul) Wilson, Garrett (Elizabeth) Sorenson, Clayton (Ashly) Sorenson, and Phillip; her grandchildren Liam, Bjorn, Brianna, Tristan, Sean, Jonah, and Elsa; and her six siblings, Linda (Keith) Leavitt, Susan, Allen (Diane), Janis (Larry) McTeer, Gayle (Spencer) Schmutz and Dayle (Pam). Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 1, 2020 at 11:00 A.M. in the Loa Utah LDS Stake Center where friends may call for viewing from 9:30 to 10:30 prior to the services. Burial will be in the Loa Cemetery under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield and Salina, Utah.