Nell Dean Banks Williamson

Nell Dean Banks Williamson beloved mother grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother passed away on October 28, 2025, at the Gables Memory Center in Logan, UT where she had resided since March of 2025. 

Nell Dean Banks was born July 2, 1930, in Green River, WY to Robert Ernest Banks and Josephine Hunter Banks. She was welcomed by her sisters Nedra and Norva and a brother Ernest "Bud" Banks. She was the apple of her Dad's eye. They were inseparable spending as many hours together as possible. She believed all the 4th of July celebrations were to celebrate her birthday. She was baptized in the Green River in a red bathing suit. For the first 10 years of her life, the family continued to live in in Green River until her father was killed in a horrible railroad accident on December 6, 1940. His death nearly broke her. She suffered greatly with the loss of her father as they were best buds. She nearly starved herself to death as she was so lost and depressed. 

The family moved to Montpelier, ID to be close to her Grandma Hunter and the rest of the family. Times were hard as World War Il raged on. Everyone suffered greatly during the war because they dealt with lack of money and wartime shortages. Nell Dean was so excited one time to receive a pair of nylons with a fancy black stripe down them. She cherished this special gift. During high school, she worked at Rexall drugstore at the soda fountain and as a cashier. She worked very hard to make a little extra money for her family. 

She was quite the center of attention while attending Montpelier High School. She was very popular and never lacked for boyfriends. She played the field dating several boys at the same time including Phil Williamson who then left school to join the Navy. She was just as mischievous as the guys she dated, and they had many great adventures together. Apparently, she was with Phil and Larry when they placed a gate of a local rancher on top of his barn, The rancher offered a reward in hopes the culprit would try to collect the reward and he would catch them. She was always quick to say she never touched the gate and was only the lookout! She was even known to sit in the middle of the front seat holding hands with both boys at the same time. She graduated from Montpelier High School in May 1948. Phil came home and wanted to get married but she said that she wouldn't marry anybody that was in the Navy and so he didn't reenlist. He just accepted his discharge as the war was over. 

She married her high school sweetheart Phil A Williamson on August 19th, 1948, in the Salt Lake Temple for Time and All Eternity, they are the parents of four children Robyn Kaye (David) Cohoon, Orem Ut, Ned R Williamson (Shirlyn) Logan UT, Kirk Paul Williamson Sandra) Ogden UT and Erin Sue Casteel, Logan UT. 

She is the grandmother of 19 grandchildren, 78 great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren and one more on the way. She was preceded in death by her husband Phil, her parents Robert E. and Josephine H. Banks, and her sisters Nedra McGee and Norva Borck, her brother, Bud Banks and one grandson Jason Cohoon. 

Nell Dean spent her life being of service first to her family as she worked tirelessly to take care of her children. She was always available to help them through the challenges of their lives. She worked very hard to help support the family by working at the motel in Montpelier, later the Del Monte factory in Smithfield, the mink farm, and then she retired from Schreiber cheese factory to help support the children. She was always available to help her children with their emotional ups and downs, whatever they needed she was there for them. She took the lead in teaching her children the gospel and having them participate in church activities. Anything her children have become for good is due to having her as their mother. 

As a daughter she cared for and supported her mother Josephine after she had a major heart attack. After her mother's death eight years later, she took in her disabled aunt Nell who had been living with her mother for about 18 years. Nell Dean and Phil welcomed her into their home for the next many years and cared for her until her death. 

She was a great friend to her peers, always available to listen to and to help them whenever possible. Nell Dean was loyal to her friends enjoying playing games, trips to the Bear Lake, and going to movies. 

Nell Dean served admirably in many positions in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She was a fantastic young woman's leader --serving several times in presidencies, then as a primary teacher in her 80s and a compassionate service leader --also in her 80s. One of her favorite callings was singing in the "Singing mothers' choir". She loved music and had a beautiful voice. 

She was a member of the Red Hat Society and the daughters of the Utah pioneers. Nell Dean participated with the senior citizens center of Hyrum where she did ceramics, played bingo, did exercising, and went on many trips with other seniors. 

She was a fantastic seamstress (which clothed her girls for years), knitter and crocheting, Many people in Cache County wore her creations. Every new grandbaby in the family cuddled in the gift of a blanket crocheted by Nell Dean. Every grandchild received the wedding gift of a handmade crocheted Afghan. She crocheted so much that when she was unconscious in the hospital with encephalitis she crocheted in the air. Who knows what beautiful blankets she was creating.

Sadly, in her later years, she suffered from dementia and Alzheimer's but her joyful personality came through to the very end. Oh the stories she would tell! She loved to sing and would sing with her grand and great grandchildren in the care center. Often, she was the life of the party at the care center. Her caregivers often commented on what a wonderful smile she had and had a delightful personality. The "old" Nell Dean could be seen many times. Her hospice nurse commented that she was his favorite patient. She often teased him and recently sang during his visit. He did mention she was stubborn. Really??? 

She was the glue that held our family together, she was the arm to rely on, she was the shoulder to cry on, the ear that heard all our happiness and our sadness, the heart that reached out and loved her family unconditionally. She loved her Savior to the end. She will be missed.