A live broadcast of the service will be available at https://youtube.com/channel/UCykcaTofAGSDRM0IqgLqeAQ

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Bobby Jean Gooch Madsen on April 19, 2024, after many years of struggling with health issues. Her sweetheart Dale was by her side and holding her hand.

Bobby Jean was born a late Christmas gift to Jesse Odell and Mary Jane (Jacklin) Gooch on December 26, 1944, in American Fork, Utah, later moving to Lehi where her family lived for many years having settled in the valley as pioneers.

She was followed by her sister, Jackie Jane, and then by her brother John Odell. Despite their age differences, she and her siblings were friends for life and many holidays and vacations were planned around spending time at their parents' house or traveling far and wide to camp and explore the Western states, including annual family trips to Jackson Hole, Yellowstone Park, the Oregon Coast, and annual couples River Run trips on the Colorado River.

Growing up in the country, Bobby learned skills that would help her in her future life and one of those skills was selling worms for the fishermen passing by on the busy country road that led to favored fishing spots. One fateful day, she sold worms to the rowdy Madsen boys from Draper. Little did she know then that it was the beginning of the journey of her lifetime.

One of those Madsen boys, Dale, had a sweet spot for Bobby and eventually, and after meeting several more times, the two became a devoted couple with a proposal coming when they were young. They were married in Lehi when she was 16, and he was barely 19. Despite their youth, they took marriage seriously and settled comfortably into being adults.

Education was very important to Bobby and Dale, so she continued her high school education while Dale went to Trade School in the evenings leading to his career. Bobby took a brief break from school a year after their marriage, when their first daughter, Wendy Sue, was born but returned to school when Wendy was a year old. Bobby liked to talk about the times that her home economics teacher asked her to bring Wendy to class so the other students could learn hands-on about caring for a baby. Bobby graduated from Jordan High School and was both a Pioneer and Beet Digger for life.

Wendy was just the beginning of their family. After a brief gap, she was followed by a sister, Stacy Jean, then another sister, Michelle Ann (Chelle), and giving it one more try for a boy, the family was rounded out with Michael Shane (Mike).

Bobby was very talented and creative and found many opportunities in her life to pursue her passions and to instill in her children those same values and each now reflects her appreciation of the arts.

Music was always playing, and songs were sung and even when the lyrics were a bit misheard, they were sung anyway. Sometimes a bit loud but always because they were enjoyed and sung with enthusiasm.

Fine art was a central point of her life and Bobby volunteered for many years behind the scenes at the Utah Pageant of the Arts, helping with make-up that brought the masterpieces to life. This led her to take up oil painting, learning from many influential teachers in Utah and Idaho. To this day, her artwork can be found decorating the homes of many family members and friends.

As their children got older, Bobby and Dale decided that they wanted a change and moved to Gooding, Idaho where they owned a local business with customers from throughout the Magic Valley. Always very sociable, Bobby met many new friends and acquaintances in Idaho as she assisted in the business and continued to pursue her passions and hobbies.

However, after time, the pull for the family became great and they decided to move back to Utah and built a home on property they still owned in Lehi where they have lived since. For many years until Bobby's health became too difficult, they traveled broadly, packing their trailer, and going on weeks-long trips, enjoying many cruises, and traveling to Mexico. For a short time, they had a second home in Koosharem, Utah, and would take frequent opportunities to visit taking their children and grandchildren for fun weekends with Nana and Papa and visiting with other family living there.

Bobby is survived by her soulmate and love of her life, Dale, their children: Wendy and her children Wyatt (Chloe) and Chad (Helen); Stacy (Mark Stowman) and their children Shanna (Kevin) and Ian; Michelle (Fred) and their children, Jesseca, Quincy (Holly), McCaslin, and Emilee; and Michael (Robin) and their children Camdyn and Jaslyn; as well as several great-grandchildren that filled her life with joy. She is also survived by her husband's brother Reid Madsen, and sister Marla (Steve) Webb.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, her brother, several nieces and nephews, her in-laws, and her respective brothers and sisters in-law whom she loved very much.

Funeral services will be held Friday, April 26, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 1680 W. 700 S. Lehi, Utah. A viewing will be at 11 a.m., with the funeral at Noon. Interment at the American Fork Cemetery. A family luncheon will be held at the church at 2 p.m.

To help celebrate Bobby's life, please take time to find a field of flowers to enjoy, a painting to admire, or sing a song or two with gusto. She is sure to join in from heaven.