Brenda Lee Buttars Wilding, beloved daughter, sister and wife, passed away Wednesday, October 20, 2004 in an automobile accident. She was born in Logan, Utah on May 3, 1975 to Brent and Sonja Buttars. She was the oldest of five daughters and one son. She was raised in Smithfield and attended school at Summit Elementary, North Cache Jr. High and Sky View High School. Brenda started playing the piano at seven years of age and went on to become an accomplished pianist. She excelled at the USU Conservatory and performed in many recitals. She had an amazing knack for sight reading and did a great deal of accompaniment work. She played the clarinet, viola, organ and the harp and performed with the harp quartet at Ricks College. While at Sky View she was involved with the theater department and accompanied many of the musicals. She was secretary of the DECA Club and also competed, winning the State Title and attending Nationals in Orlando, Florida. She served on Seminary Council and was Sky View Sterling Scholar for business. She was on the honor roll every semester and was a member of the National Honor Society. Brenda attended Ricks College on a Presidential Scholarship and graduated with honors. After attending BYU for a semester she served a mission for the LDS Church in the New York, New York North Mission. Upon returning she attended Utah State University, graduating with a degree in finance. She also graduated from the LDS Institute of Religion. She then moved to Salt Lake where she first worked for First Security Bank and then for Merrill Lynch where she has worked for the past 5 years as a client associate. Brenda married her best friend and soul mate, Nathan Yardley Wilding on January 25, 2003 in the Logan LDS Temple. She was so happy with Nate and loved him with her whole heart and being. They had just purchased a home in Centerville and were enjoying furnishing, painting and decorating it. Brenda touched every person's life who she came in contact with. She always had a kind word for everyone and was genuinely concerned for others. She was always sending thank you notes and notes of encouragement to others. Her life was cut short at 29 years, but Brenda has done more, touched more lives, and accomplished more than most people do in a lifetime. Brenda has left a spot in our lives that will never be replaced; we will miss her, our little angel! Brenda is survived by her husband Nathan, who is currently in critical condition from injuries suffered in the automobile accident; her parents; her mother and father-in-law, Jeanne and Dave Wilding; sisters: Shannon (Russell) Dean, Jennifer (Brigham) Curran, Rachel, Rebecca; brother: Jason. Nathan's siblings: Alan (Emily), Gregg, Blair, Elise; her grandparents: Chester and Leatrice Buttars; two nephews and two nieces as well as many loving aunts, uncles and cousins.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, October 26, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. in the Smithfield North Stake Center, 155 West 400 North, Smithfield, UT. There will be viewings held on Monday, October 25, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Nelson Funeral Home, 85 South Main, Smithfield; and on Tuesday from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. at the church. Interment will be in the Centerville Cemetery, Centerville, UT at 3:00 p.m. Condolences may be extended to the family online at www.nelsonfuneralhome.com

Published in the Deseret News on 10/24/2004