Beth Jensen

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FREDONIA, ARIZ./FERRON, UTAH-Beth Lemon Stephenson Jensen, 85, passed away peacefully April 26, 2011 at Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George, Utah.
She was born Jan. 7, 1926, the fourth of five children to Arthur and Irena Lemon in Ferron, Utah. She grew up on her father’s farm and learned the value of hard work. When her older brother Ralph went on a mission and into the military, she and her three sisters helped out with the farm work.
She attended schools in Emery County then after high school attended Utah State University on a home economics scholarship for one year. The following year she attended Snow College then later Brigham Young University. She majored in education with a minor in music and art. She applied for a kindergarten teaching job in Holden, Utah, where she met her future husband, Linford Stephenson. They were married in 1947 and moved onto a farm where they had their first child, a baby girl. Later they moved into Holden where they had four little boys. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Manti Temple. They lived in Holden for about 10 years but eventually divorced.
Beth received assistance with government displaced homemakers type program and returned to college earning her Bachelors Degree and teaching certificate. She was one of the first success stories of this program and was able to support her family without assistance thereafter. She moved her young family to Vernal, Utah where she taught elementary school for three years then moved to Fredonia, Ariz. where she taught second grade for 22 years.
She dedicated her life to raising her five children. She set the example of hard work, dedication to the Lord, service to others and the importance of getting a good education. All of her children attended college and earned advanced degrees. She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holding many positions in the mutual, primary, sunday school and relief society. She was also a member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.
In 1985, she married Bruce Jensen and returned back to Emery County, living in Castle Dale. They had 14 wonderful years together and were sealed together in the Manti Temple. Bruce passed away in 1999. Beth was grandmother to 24 of her own, 48 great-grand children and two great-great-grandchildren. With Bruce she was grandmother to 15 and great-grandmother to 38 children.
She was preceded in death by her parents Arthur and Irene Lemon, her brother Ralph Lemon, sisters Mae Barton, Maxine Jensen; her first husband Linford Stephenson and second husband Bruce Jensen and step-son Lynn Jensen; a granddaughter Sarah Stephenson and a great-grandson Tanner Stephenson.
She is survived by her own children Rhea (George) McCormick of Fredonia, Ariz; Dwight (Lori) Stephenson of Oconomowoc, Wis.; Howard (Julie) Stephenson of Draper, Utah; Larry (Charlotte) Stephenson of Washington, Utah; Kendall Stephenson of Mesa, Ariz. Survived by sister, Jeanne (Claude) Scovill of Orangeville Also, survived by Bruce’s children Renee (Barry) Jordan of South Jordan Utah; Ray (Gloria) Jensen of American Fork, Utah and George (Marie) Jensen of Castle Dale, Utah.