Vonda Vergene Llewelyn

In Loving Memory of Vonda Vergene (Spencer) Llewelyn

Vonda Vergene (Spencer) Llewelyn peacefully passed away on Friday, October 24, 2025, at the age of 81.

Born on September 12, 1944, in Mesa, Arizona, Vonda was the beloved daughter and 11th child of Floyd Otto Spencer and Eva Mernie Bowman Spencer. She spent her early years in Mesa, Arizona before moving to Murray, Utah, and then the family later settled in American Fork, Utah.  She spent those years with her mother and brothers, Jimmy Eugene and Jody Lee. During her time at American Fork High School, Vonda discovered a deep love for art and excelled in her creative pursuits—a passion she carried with her throughout her life.

Vonda was first married to Robert (Bob) H. Warden, with whom she had six children. Later, she met the love of her life, her devoted partner and steadfast companion, Francis Golden Llewelyn. They were married in 1975 in Elko, Nevada, and their shared faith brought them into active service within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In 1981, their love and family were sealed together for eternity in the Salt Lake City Temple—Frank adopting Vonda’s six children as his own.

In 1997, their family grew again when they lovingly adopted Michael Francis as a newborn, sealing him to them the following year in the Mesa Arizona Temple. Later in life, Vonda also opened her heart once more through the adoption of Blake Breeona Vergene, raising her with the same patience, compassion, and grace that defined her motherhood.

Vonda and Frank’s marriage was one built on mutual devotion, resilience, and faith. Together, they weathered life’s many challenges and shared 35 wonderful years until Frank’s passing from cancer in 2010. Through every joy and every hardship, Vonda remained the heart of her family—her love unwavering, her spirit strong.

Throughout her life, Vonda was a dedicated wife, mother, and homemaker. Whenever life demanded it, she stepped into the workforce with determination and humility—working at National Semiconductors, the Salt Lake County Assessor’s Office, Llewelyn Bingham Bulletin Press, Schwan’s, and even alongside her sister Eleanor in her maternity shop, The Watermelon Seed. She also wasn’t afraid to roll up her sleeves and work beside her husband cleaning and maintaining the cement trucks he drove.

Vonda’s hands were rarely still. Her diverse talents shone through in many forms, including charcoal and stencil drawing, woodworking, sewing, genealogy research, and various creative home projects. She loved collecting Depression glass, tinkering with cars, going to the sand dunes, and creating beauty in the small corners of life. Her family cherished hearing her ancestral stories and pictures. Her love of animals was greatly seen throughout the years from owning her beloved dogs, cats, and the occasional bird.

But above all else, Vonda will be remembered for her heart. Her kindness, her infectious laugh, her willingness to help others before herself, and her quiet strength through life’s challenges left an impression on everyone who knew her. She faced each day with courage and faith, and she loved her family with every part of her being. Throughout many times in her life children and grandchildren were welcomed with eagerness, open arms, and love.

Vonda was preceded in death by her husband, Frank; her son, Robert Anthony; her parents, Floyd Otto and Eva Mernie; nine of her siblings; along with three of her grandsons. She is survived by her brother, Jody Lee Spencer; her children—Ronda Lynn, Janet Lee, Lee Edward, Gina Rae, John Wesley, Michael Francis, and Blake Breeona Vergene—as well as many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and loved ones who will forever cherish her memory.

Vonda’s life was one of service, creativity, and love. Though she has gone on to join her eternal companion and loved ones beyond the veil, her light continues to shine through the family she so dearly nurtured. Her legacy is one of faith, laughter, and unwavering love—a reminder that even in hardship, there is grace, and in love, there is eternal life.