Jennifer Blaine

Jennifer (Dunlap) Blaine was born to Susan and Vincent Dunlap in Chico, CA and raised in Paradise, CA. Her first friends were her siblings and cousins. She enjoyed growing up in a small mountain town with her siblings, John (Cris), Jill (Thain), Justin (Alisa) and Jeremy (Kathryn). She became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when she was just 12 years old, earning her Young Women’s medallion and graduating from Seminary. Hiking the canyon behind her childhood home was one of her favorite pastimes. She danced for Northern California Ballet, played soccer, was a member of 4-H and was on the swim team. Her teaching career started early as she was involved with the Paradise High Teaching Academy during her junior and senior years of high school. She was the Class of 1994 Valedictorian of Paradise High School. She went on to study at Brigham Young University and took a break from school to serve a mission to Brazil. She returned to BYU where she graduated in December of 2000 with a degree in elementary education and a minor in zoology. On November 19, 1999 she met her Mountain Man, Nathan Blaine, on a camping trip with friends. They were married and sealed for time and all eternity on April 22, 2000 in the Mesa, Arizona Temple and enjoyed a honeymoon to Hawaii. They began their life together and fulfilled her greatest dream by raising a family. Emily Elizabeth joined them in 2001, and Benjamin Nathan in 2003. They continued in Provo, Utah while Nathan finished his degrees and then moved for a short time to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where Deven Grant joined the family in 2005. In 2007, the Blaine family made Mantua, Utah their forever home. Bronco Vincent joined the adventure in 2010 and their family was complete in 2012 when Denali SueAne was born. Jennifer put her whole heart into her family. She knew that a strong family started with living correct principles at home. The kids were nourished in emotion, mind, body, and spirit with her dedicating her time to stay at home to tend and care for them. In her pursuit to provide for her children’s well-being she formed book clubs, play groups, pre-schools, healthy meals, and regular schedules. Jennifer had an insatiable desire to learn. Always seeking and always learning. After she turned 40 she learned to play the piano well enough to accompany in primary. Jennifer joined the Promontory School family when it was first formed. She served as a volunteer, classroom aide, intervention specialist, and most recently as the Director. She also served on the school board for 5 years, helping shape the direction of the school. She loved the staff and school but her favorite thing about Promontory was the kids. She knew them all by name and loved each one. Jennifer had many best friends. Her circle of friends was always expanding and always growing. She loved people. She loved to laugh. She loved to see others smile. Jennifer loved adventure. She began traveling early with a school trip to Washington DC as an 8th grader and a summer exchange to Switzerland during high school. She enjoyed yearly travel with her Dunlap siblings and their families. The Dunlap/Blaine/Anderson reunion grew from the original 7 on a houseboat to over 33 in Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico, Virgin Islands and Tahoe. She camped and hiked all over Utah, Idaho and California with dear friends and family, but most enjoyed adventures with her husband of 23 years, Nate and their five children. In the winter you could find Jennifer cross-country skiing, she fell in love with it dating back to 1997. In the summer she hiked and enjoyed finding warm water to swim in. Jennifer was often found leading a group of ladies up the hill as part of a Mantua hiking group. Jen was actively involved in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holding many callings including Primary President, Gospel Doctrine teacher, Young Women’s President, Relief Society President, Nursery Leader, and Primary Teacher. Jennifer’s infectious smile and sense of humor was complemented by her driving desire to serve and to put others' needs in front of her own. The most important person to Jennifer is the person right in front of her. She is a woman who exemplifies charity, the true love of Christ. Jennifer and Nathan’s life plan met an unanticipated major shift on Friday, September 1, 2023 when Jennifer and newlyweds, Emily & Zach, and daughter Denali were headed up to the Tetons to meet Nathan and Bronco on yet another adventure. In a tragic head-on collision with a semi-truck she was killed on impact along with her two daughters, son-in-law, and family dog. The family would like to thank all those who have shown such love and compassion during this time of grief and also thank those who were on the scene of the tragic accident for all of their help. Jennifer (age 46) is survived by her husband Nathan Blaine and their boys, Benjamin, Deven, and Bronco, her mother Susan Dunlap Henriques, and siblings John (Cris), Jill (Thain), Justin (Alisa) and Jeremy (Kathryn). Jennifer is preceded in death by her father, Vincent Dunlap and her two beautiful daughters Emily and Denali and their beloved family dog Peaches. A public closed casket viewing will be held on Friday, September 15, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Box Elder LDS Stake Center, 420 S 800 W, Brigham City, Utah. Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 16, 2023, at 1 p.m. also at the Box Elder LDS Stake Center. Interment will take place in Mantua, Utah.