Our dear mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Nita Thomassen, of Kaysville, Utah, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 9, 2024. She was 79 years old.
Nita was born in Cedar City, Utah on April 18, 1945 to her loving parents, Lee and Vera Liston. She was well loved as the youngest in her family, and their only daughter. She grew up in Kaysville, Utah, and attended Davis High School where she was a Sterling Scholar recipient, and a cheerleader, graduating in 1963. She attended University of Utah where she studied the science of performing arts.
She married her high school sweetheart, Richard Hansen, and together they had three children; Melissa, Mathew Richard, and Amanda. They later divorced. She remarried Arthur Keith (K) Thomassen and had a son Kregg. They also were later divorced.
Mom lived a Christlike life. She had the kindest heart, made friends easily, complimented others often and was an eternal optimist. She was always very generous, she may have had very little, yet she gave so much to others. She found great joy in giving to her family, friends and strangers whom she felt may be in need.
In high school she excelled in home economics and was an especially talented seamstress. She received awards for her outstanding sewing projects. Over the years she has sewn many items such as- tents, sleeping bags, costumes, clothing, recovering furniture, and many, many more. She was happiest if she had a needle and thread close by, even up to the last days of her life. After she gave you an item that she had sewn for you, she would always say, “Every stitch says, “I Love You!” Mom wanted us to feel her great deep love that she had for all of us!
Mom was a performer, as a little girl she performed her “8 acts” (she would stand in front of her family and do a little song and dance of some sort). She continued dancing and cheering in her teenage years, in college she danced with Ballet West, and taught dancing lessons for many years while raising her young family.
Her performing skills continued as she enjoyed being a radio and television talk show host for a short time. This is when she chose another name for herself and was known as “Tina Thomas”.
Nita was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Mom had a love for God, her country, and animals. Her life was an example of humility, sacrifice, and unconditional love to all. She had a passion for writing stories, poems, and songs about things that taught good morals and values, she wrote under the name of “Sarah Sutherland”.
Being a sports fan was a huge part of the Liston home. Her father was a coach for many years, and her brothers were great football players. Nita and Vera were devoted to watching as many sporting events as they could, especially supporting their family members, extending to grandkids. They continued even when their health declined and would sit in their walkers to catch a glimpse of their favorite players, cheering as loud as they could.
How blessed we feel to have been raised by such a loving, caring, selfless, optimistic mother! We often refer to our upbringing as being raised “Mary Poppins” style, for our mom knew how to make life fun! Her impact for good is unmeasurable. May we continue the legacy in our own lives and our posterity, with high morals, generous hearts, and optimistic attitudes. We love you mom!
Nita is survived by her brother Paul (Cary) Liston, sister in law Jenny Liston, her four children, Melissa (Guy) Jones, Mat (Ellen) Hansen, Amanda (Benjamin) Harrison, Kregg (Kami) Thomassen; 15 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. Nita is preceded in death by her parents, Lee and Vera Liston, and brother Jerry Liston.
Nita’s family is grateful to all who assisted and cared for her in her last few years.
Funeral services will be held Friday November 15, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Lindquist’s Kaysville Mortuary, 400 N. Main Street, Kaysville, Utah. Family and friends may visit Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. prior to the service at the mortuary.
Interment, Kaysville City Cemetery, 500 E. Crestwood Rd., Kaysville, Utah.
The funeral service will be live-streamed and may be viewed by scrolling to the bottom of Nita’s obituary page at www.lindquistmortuary.com.
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Sam Rushforth
Nita and I grew up on Center Street in Kaysville, Utah. We were mates, collecting pop bottles for the deposit and buying Big Hunk candy bars with our proceeds. Catching frogs and garter snakes in Hodd’s Hollow, whiling away summer days as children. We often set up lemonade stands together on Center Street during the heat of summer. I guess she was my first pal. She was also the first girl I ever kissed. We sort of grew up together in our earliest years of memory. So long old pal! I will truly miss you.
Marsha Massey (Daskevich)
Oh Dear Friend!
My very best friend when I came to Davis High in my junior year. She took me under her wing and never wavered. She convinced me to try out for cheerleader our Senior year. And so we were together with the greatest memories ever. She convinced me to tryout for two operettas, Showboat and South Pacific. We had a blast!!! My Dad took us on a long memorable fishing trip the summer of 1962- camped out under the stars and cooked our fish over an open fire. We laughed until we cried. She knew ALL my secrets. She was my bride's maid at my wedding. We kept in touch for many years. When my mother passed away in 1982, she was the first to visit me in my parents home that very day. In 1997 my Dad passed away. I came from Colorado and lo and behold, there was Nita to be there for me as always. I now live in Texas and would have loved to have been at her funeral but it was not to be. I have been smiling and crying all week, every since the announcement came out.
Go with the angels Sweet Nita, that's where you belong. Thank you for it all. I love you always. Marsha
Sam Rushforth
Nita and I were good friends beginning in jr high school, and became much closer our sr year at Davis. Nita was solid, smart, fun and loyal. Sam and I spent many evenings with Richard and Nita after they were married and enjoyed their extended friendship. I lost track of Nita following their divorce, but will always remember her energy, intelligence and loving ways. Her obituary gives many examles of her love for all, and the love her children have for her. I'm so glad that she was my friend.
Nancy Evans Rushforth