Shelece Jorgensen

Shelece Jorgensen died August 27th after a long and grueling battle with cancer. She lived her life surrounded by family and they were with her when she passed. She’ll be remembered for her kindness to strangers and anyone who struggled, and for making friendships she nourished for a lifetime as a worldclass letter-writer and gift-giver. But most of all she’ll be remembered for the laughter and light she brought in to whatever room she entered. 

She was born Nov. 23rd 1970 in Logan, Utah and grew up in nearby Wellsville, the last child in a  cramped and noisy house full of siblings and a rotating cast of foster kids, boarders and foreign students. Like all the kids in the house, she was kept busy with church activities and chores in the family’s half-acre garden. 

Soon after graduation from Mountain Crest High School she impulsively moved to Taiwan, hoping to teach English as a Second Language. She was so eager for independence that she neglected to arrange a job and housing in advance. And it was there that her super power, a genuine sweetness and warm gregariousness, saved her like it would many times in her lifetime. She made fast friends with other American ex-pats who quickly helped her get settled. She would return to Taiwan years later, this time with her three children in tow, ages 8, 10 and 14. They stayed for three months with no other objective than adventure.

There would be many other adventures. During a Christmas break while attending Utah State University, she hitchhiked with a friend across Mexico. And, after  meeting her husband Troy they spent a year together in Wyoming, living in a van while working restaurant and hotel jobs.

They started their family in Salt Lake City where Troy began his career in mining and geology and Shelece continued to pursue art, including illustrating pamphlets for the Utah Fish and Game Department. One of her paintings was featured in an exhibition at the Utah Museum of Fine Art. Later, the family spent two years in Fallon, Nevada and then Billings, Montana. In 2012, they moved for four years to Australia where they found everything new and different, and therefore, fun. 

But, it was in Australia that Shelece’s cancer first cropped up, beginning an agonizing fight that would continue long after the family’s return to Billings. Through it all she never ceased being the favorite auntie of her many nieces and nephews, and all the kids in the neighborhood. And, she never stopped sending letters that always included drawings and some of the tiny charms and do-dads that she gathered from her many travels.  

She is survived by her husband Troy Himes, son Arlo and his wife Anni, son Elijah and his wife Julia, and daughter Grace.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:30am on Saturday September 5, 2026 at Dahl Funeral Chapel in Billings, Montana.