Nola Jean Shields Bunker, age 86, quietly and peacefully returned to her Father in Heaven in Delta, Utah on May 8, 2024. She was born to Rodney A and Melva Jane Justesen Shields on January 3, 1938 in their home in Sugarville, Utah. She had three sisters and two brothers. Her favorite time as a youth was spent with her older brother LeAur “Pete”, getting in trouble together quite often when they wouldn’t come home on time (sometimes that being the least of the reasons they got in trouble).
Nola was baptized at the age of 8 into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and remained faithful in every calling she accepted. She loved being on the Compassionate Service Committee, in which she served for several years. She was endowed when she married Donald N. Bunker in 1973 (later divorced), and has remained quite faithful to her covenants throughout her life.
She loved doing anything outdoors from driving a tractor to milking cows, from fishing to hunting, from riding horses to any work that involved the outdoors.
While in high school, she learned the craft of leatherwork from Mr. Seegmiller. She became quite skilled at leather work during these years. She graduated from Delta High School in 1956 and pursued a college degree at the College of Southern Utah majoring in physical education with a minor in health. She later transferred to Utah State University and graduated with her teaching degree in physical education in 1960.
Nola moved back to Delta and secured a job in Fillmore, teaching there for a short few years. She transferred to Delta High School and taught physical education. Her talents stretched much further than PE, as she also was an advisor over the cheerleading squad as well as the Tridels. She also taught leather work in high school. This passion allowed her to make numerous treasured items cherished by many members of her family as well as the community. Nola later shared her talents of teaching leatherwork and history at the Delta Middle School for several years.
When Nola retired from her teaching career, she took up woodworking, being quite proficient in her talents. Some of the gorgeous items she made include night stands, tables, book shelves, chests of drawers, cedar chests, bathroom vanities, etc. Every room in her sister Joyce’s home is quite fortunate to have a piece of her fine work still bing used, as well as many other personally designed, hand-crafted pieces cherished in numerous other family homes.
Nola spent so much of her time with her nieces and nephews, fishing with them, hunting with them, teaching some to drive, giving rides to them on her red motorcycle, teaching them many life skills (including chicken ‘tricks’).
Nola was an accomplished pie maker and provided numerous tasty pies for family Thanksgiving dinners, even teaching those skills with her nieces and great nieces as well.
Nola loved to travel – especially to Hawaii – with her dear friend, Eleanor. Nola still insisted on working even while on vacation in Hawaii, mainly on her friend’s macadamia nut farm, and there was always a lot of work that needed to be done there.
She was fun to pull pranks on, and because of her gullibility, she was often the target of pranks played on her by her siblings as well as her nieces and nephews. She took teasing with such a good attitude, smiling through the entire joke or prank.
Nola is survived by her sisters: Dorene (Jim) Meinburg, Ann (John) Frampton, and Joyce (Dennis) Moody, all of Delta; sister-in-law: Shirley (LeAur “Pete”) Shields; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and her older brothers: Rodney J. and LeAur “Pete”. She is loved by all whose lives she has touched over the years.
Funeral services were held Saturday, May 11, at 11:00 am, at the Delta 1st Ward LDS Chapel, 222 West 200 North, Delta. A Viewing was held, 9:30-10:40 am, prior to the funeral. Those unable to attend are invited to view the recorded video of the service. Burial was in the Delta City Cemetery.