Beth Parkinson

On Wednesday, August 6, 2014, Beth Louise Hegsted Parkinson passed away peacefully at Lakeview Hospital following surgery. While her family was planning a big 90th birthday party, our Father in Heaven had other plans. Instead, our sweet mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend is having a joyful reunion with all those she loves, in particular her baby girl, Janey.

Beth was born on September 30, 1924 in Rexburg, ID, the youngest of five children, to John Hegsted and Edna Porter Hegsted. She spent her early years on the family farm outside Rexburg feeding chickens and hoeing sugar beets. Her family later moved to Rexburg where she attended Adams Elementary School and Madison Jr. and Sr. High Schools. Beth’s outgoing personality and love of fun served her well in school. She was a cheerleader at Madison and made many lifelong friends attending church socials and school dances, which she never missed. She enjoyed spending time at Mack’s Inn and Squirrel Meadows near Rexburg.

She graduated from Madison High School in 1942, and briefly attended BYU. She worked as a secretary for the United States Attorney in Boise before returning to Rexburg. She met DeWilton “Dee” Chatterton Parkinson on a blind date and they were married September 9, 1947 in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. Upon Dee’s graduation from Pharmacy School at Idaho State University, Mom and Dad embarked on their life together and lived in Preston, ID; Bountiful, UT; Fullerton, CA; Rexburg and Franklin, ID, before finally settling in Tremonton, UT. Side by side, Mom and Dad built a successful drugstore, The City Drug. Beth created a unique antique section in the front of the store that no one could resist. She also worked as a secretary for the U.S. Agriculture office in Tremonton. Beth would say her crowning achievement was having six children during this time.

After her divorce in 1969, Beth returned to the workforce as a secretary at Utah State University, where she made many lifelong friends. She was loved by the faculty and hundreds of students that sought her advice for admissions, financial aid and personal guidance. She had an affinity for international students and became friends with people from all over the world. Often Thanksgiving dinners at Beth’s house looked like a “mini United Nations”. She retired from USU in 1987 and lived in Logan until 2004. She then moved to Farmington to be closer to her children. She lived very independently making new connections, especially her “Burger King” friends. She volunteered at local libraries and often sought out those who needed a friend.

Beth was an active member of the LDS Church serving in many callings throughout her life. She served a senior mission in Chicago, Illinois in 1998.

Beth’s favorite things, besides her children and grandchildren, were books, books and more books. She was always telling everyone about something she had read. Because of her extensive reading, she knew a lot about many things. She shared a love of antiques with her sister Helen, whom she spoke to almost every day. Beth had forgotten more about old furniture than most of us will ever know. She enjoyed growing things in the ground, but would tell you that she was never very good at it.

“Mom, even though you lived to almost 90, for those of us who loved you, you left us much too soon. You were the rock of our family for such a long time. We will miss your sweet, and sometimes feisty personality, your quick wit and vast knowledge on so many subjects. We will miss hearing the stories of Rexburg that we’ve probably heard a million times, but still love. We are proud of you, and know that through the many trials you encountered in your life, you truly did endure to the end.”

Beth was preceded in death by brothers, Jack and Mark; sister Barbara; daughter Margaret Jane “Janey”, and her former husband Dee. She is survived by her sister, Helen Pratt, St. George, UT, and Children: Scott (Pam),Ogden, UT; John (Jane), Herald CA; Kirk (Susan), Layton, UT; Marianne (Steve) Jackson, The Woodlands, TX; Mark (Michelle), Sandy, UT; thirteen grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and one on the way.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 16, 2014 at Noon at Rogers & Taylor Funeral Home (111 N. 100 E. –Tremonton, UT). A Viewing for family and friends will be held from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Interment will take place at the Franklin City Cemetery in Idaho. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Kaysville Library by contacting them at library@daviscountyut.gov