Beverly Rae Christensen Eliason, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away November 2, 2014 at home surrounded by her loving family. Beverly was born August 5, 1929 in Delta, Utah at the Grunning Maternity Home. She was the eldest child of Edna Leone Hales and Earl Lewis Christensen. She grew up in Deseret and attended A.C. Nelson Elementary School for eight years, then Hinckley High School. She graduated in May, 1947 as a Student Body Officer and Valedictorian of her class.
Because of her excellent secretarial skills she was hired as a legal secretary immediately after graduation.
Beverly married Elbert Phil Eliason February 24, 1950 in the St. George Temple. Together they had eight children, three of which died in infancy. Once her children were all in school, she started working again for the school district. She worked as an aid for a year at Hinckley Elementary School, then as a secretary at the Delta Elementary, and then at the Delta Middle School, for a total of 27 years. She also helped her husband on the farm whenever she was needed.
She was a life-long member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served the church in many capacities; including Young Women's President, in the Primary Presidency, and taught the eight-year old primary class for 46 years. She was “the best primary teacher ever”. She was also involved in the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, gardening clubs, and fine-arts clubs.
She loved to garden and read, and had many plants and animals; however, most of all she loved her husband, children, and grandchildren.
Beverly is preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter: Robyn Howell; her infant children: Terry, Jerry, and Tammy; sister: Carolyn Haynes; brother: Sheldon Christensen; and grandchildren: Braden Murray and Denver Dutson.
She is survived by her brother: Phil Christensen, Erda, UT; and children: Layne (Laurel) Eliason, Deseret, UT; Margo Murray, LaPoint, UT; Vicki (Edward) Lyman, Delta, UT; and Janet (Daryl) Dutson, Deseret, UT; 24 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.
Beverly spent countless hours nurturing grandchildren, planting flowers, solving crossword puzzles, and taking care of others. She loved working with the children at the Delta Middle School and followed the lives of the students for years afterward.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 8, 2014 at 11:00 am at the Deseret-Oasis Chapel in Deseret. Friends may call at the Nickle Mortuary, 190 S Center, on Friday, November 7, 7:00-8:00 pm; and at the church, 9:30-10:40 am, prior to the services. Interment will follow at the Deseret Cemetery.