Sylvia Diane Nilsson Wright March 6, 1938 - January 28, 2024

Sylvia Diane Nilsson Wright was born on the 6th of March 1938 in the little town of Raymond, Alberta, Canada, the fourth child of Alice Jane Bascom Nilsson and Donald Lewis Nilsson. Diane was eventually joined by five younger siblings so, being a middle child, she made sure everyone on both sides felt loved and cared for. Diane lived on a sugar beet farm during her growing up years so she learned to work hard, helping to care for acres of sugar beets during the spring, summer and fall. No rest for the weary.

Diane was not only kind and attentive to her siblings, she was also attentive to her schoolwork. She would miss weeks or even months of school each winter due to the harsh Canadian winters and living 5 miles out of town where snow plows were few and far between. In spite of missing so much school every year, she was valedictorian of her Raymond High School graduating class.

After graduation, and the sugar beet harvest that fall, Diane continued her education at Lethbridge Secretarial College, finishing an 8 month course in only 5 months. She went on to work for the Federal Department of Agriculture in Lethbridge, Alberta, as a valued asset to her employer. During this time, while living in a little apartment, she was awakened in the night by the rustling sound of her curtain. She soon discovered that the heater was leaking natural gas and would have been her demise had she not awakened in time and opened a window. Diane learned from this that her prayers for protection were answered. She was always prayerful and trusted in God in all that she did.

Shortly after this, Diane was introduced to Leo Wright, a newly returned missionary from Brooks, Alberta, that “still had that missionary glow” about him. After a brief courtship, Diane, a beautiful, tall, brown-eyed, auburn haired young woman, and Leo who, in Diane’s words, was “the most handsome man who ever drew breath”, were married in the Cardston, Alberta, LDS Temple on July 27, 1960. Throughout their 63 plus years together, Diane and Leo reminded each other several times every day that they loved each other. A beautiful example of a loving relationship. She was always Precious Diane to Leo–Presh for short. Diane would always return with “I love you Leo Wright.”

The happy couple eventually moved down south to Provo, and later, Payson, Utah, and had seven children–four boys and three girls. All born in just over 9 years. No wonder Diane longed to go back to the farm. Working on a farm must have looked easier than raising seven rambunctious kids on a shoestring. After her years of secretarial work in her early marriage, Diane was mostly a stay-at-home mom. Diane loved her kids and went to battle for them when needed. In school, all the teachers knew who Diane Wright’s kids were and didn’t mess with them. If they did they would have Mrs. Wright to deal with. Diane and Leo raised all seven kids to be strong, capable and resourceful.

While these seven kids contributed to the chaos at home, Diane worked at all the usual homemaking things. She kept a large garden, and canned a ton of produce every year. In any spare time, she sewed most all of the kid’s clothes, made quilts, and crocheted slippers and doilies. Diane excelled in baking amazing pies, cinnamon swirl bread and making enough chocolates to feed a third world country every Christmas. Those who knew her will miss those chocolates.

Diane and Leo moved briefly to Orem while they built their dream home in Spanish Fork, Utah. After the kids moved on, and the house stayed clean for more than a few minutes at a time, Diane and Leo decided to serve a mission. Their call was to the Fijian Islands as directors of the welfare services there. Perfect for Diane since she was always cold and loved serving others. She was now warm for 18 months straight, and was able to help the native Fijian people with various welfare needs—and introduce them to her chocolates.

Diane and Leo went on to serve several times as Stake missionaries. She also served as a temple worker in the Las Vegas and Provo LDS temples. Diane loved meeting and visiting with people. She had friends everywhere she went. When she and Leo moved into an assisted living facility in the last year or so of Diane’s life, Diane and Leo, hand in hand, walked for hours everyday around the halls, greeting people as they went. Big shout out to the orthopedic surgeon who replaced those knees and made all this walking possible.

On January 7th of this year, Diane fell and broke her femur. She had surgery but her health continually declined over the next three weeks. On the evening of Sunday, January 28, 2024, Diane graduated from this mortal probation, and joined loved ones who had already passed through the veil and were eagerly awaiting her return. Diane, no doubt, has her youthful beauty and her intelligent mind back, but, more importantly, now realizes her true worth as a daughter of God. Diane was 85 years old.

Diane is survived by her husband Leo; children Brent (Peggy) Wright, Darin Wright, Layne (Janen) Wright, LeAnn Anderson, Sharolyn (Keith) Tenney, Loren (Marie) Wright, Melani (Brian) Barnett; siblings Russell (Karma) Nilsson, Burle Nilsson, Marsha (Ron) Coppieters, Earl (Donna) Nilsson, Logan (Janine) Nilsson; 33 grand children and a whole lot of great-grand children–making Diane super great and not just grand.

Diane is preceded in death by daughter-in-law Lynnell (Darin) Wright, and son-in-law Michael (LeAnn) Anderson; siblings Merna (Floyd) Peterson, Nola (Wilf) Bradshaw, Bitner Nilsson, and two great-grandbabies.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2024 at 11:00 am at the Meadowlark 2^nd Ward chapel located at 1661 South 1400 East, Spanish Fork, Utah. A viewing will be held prior to the service from 9:30 to 10:30 at the same location. Interment will take place in the Payson City Cemetery.