Tena Stevens Nackos

Tena Stevens Nackos passed away peacefully in Springville, Utah on Feb. 19, 2008 at the age of 91. She was born Jan. 16, 1917 in Cave Springs, near Joplin, Missouri to Ilia Stoyanoff Milenkoff (renamed Louie Stevens at Ellis Island when he arrived from Bulgaria), and Elena Vasileva Vrachanska.



She spent her youth in Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma, and attended high school in Salt Lake City. She married James C. Nackos in 1937 and were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple in 1940. Jim and Tena had eight children, Charles (Lela), Louis (Claudia), Frank (Kaylene), George, Helen (Kent) Sorensen, John, Laura (Ray) Easler, and Nicholas (Marilyn). She was preceded in death by her husband Jim, and sons John and Nicholas. She had 27 grandchildren and many great grandchildren.



Tena and Jim were the first of their families born in America and the first to join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints and had to redefine family and cultural traditions for their family. Her unconditional love and acceptance of all people irregardless of race, station or creed won her many friends wherever she went. She and Jim spent several years in Greece as church representatives where they loved the people and accomplished much. We'll always remember her for her impish humor and as a terrific mother and friend, and are pleased that she is now with our father and her family.



Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008 at Wheeler Mortuary, 211 E. 200 S., Springville. There will be a viewing held at the mortuary from 9:15 to 9:45 prior to the service. Burial will be in the Springville Evergreen Cemetery.