Beth Quist Beck

Beth Quist Beck, 83, born August 9, 1940, to Carl Lowell and Geneve Gold Quist in Salt Lake City, Utah, died on October 5, 2023, of natural causes in Salt Lake City. She was the oldest of five children growing up in Salt Lake City and Bountiful. She graduated from Bountiful High School in 1958. She attended Brigham Young University where she met and then married Jay T. Beck. She was the mother of four children who provided her greatest adventure. Her grandchildren were her special joy as were her great-grandchildren. She married Bill Beck in 2014, with whom she lovingly shared her golden years.

Beth coupled her tireless work ethic, sharp intellect, and natural leadership skills with extraordinary opportunities that provided her with a rich and full life. Having been taught the value of education at an early age by her father, she culminated years of university study (including a BA from Brigham Young University and an MA and counseling and administrative certificates from University of Utah) with a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Utah in 1994. Over a 30-year career in public schools she taught, counseled, befriended, and supervised thousands of students at four junior high/intermediate schools and Bountiful High School and was a Vice Principal at Woods Cross High School. As a teacher leader she held elective offices in the Davis Education Association and Utah Education Association. She served on the Davis County Board of Health and as chair of Utahns for Better Dental Health-Davis where she assembled and led a group of citizens in a successful vote to implement water fluoridation in Davis County. After retiring from public education, she served as Executive Director of the Children’s Service Society of Utah where she established the Grandfamilies program, which has brought support to hundreds of grandparents, aunts, and uncles who have raised their relative’s children. As the caregiver for her elderly husband, she learned the true meaning of love and charity. As an active member of the LDS Church, she valued the contributions of her pioneer ancestors, loved her Savior, and cherished the scriptures. She served faithfully in the Church, including as an exceptional Gospel Doctrine teacher and as a docent at the LDS Church History Museum. Beth loved dogs, morning walks, reading, traveling, cooking, politics, and intense, impassioned discussions.

Beth was preceded in death by her parents, husband Jay, and sister Madeline Thimmes as well as many brothers-in-laws and sisters-in-laws. She is survived by her husband Bill and his family, and her children: Brian, West Haven, UT; Jeffrey (Nancy), Laramie, WY; Christopher, Bountiful, UT; and Brenda (Jim) Rossetti, Woods Cross, UT; 9 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and her siblings Carma Hart Fuller (Jess), Clinton, UT; Ross Quist (Marsha), Kaysville, UT; and Craig Quist (Mary), Layton, UT.

A viewing will be held at Russon Mortuary, 295 N. Main Street, Bountiful, UT, 84010, on Friday, October 13, 2023, from 6–8 PM. Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 14, 2023, at 11 AM at the Bountiful 31st Ward Building, 585 E. Center Street, Bountiful, UT 84010, with a viewing from 930–1030 AM, prior to the funeral service. Interment to follow at Memorial Lakeview Cemetery, 1640 Lakeview Drive, Bountiful, UT.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Brothers Mortuary Facebook page and on this obituary page.  The live stream will begin about 10-15 minutes prior to the service and will be posted below.

The family extends sincere appreciation to Solstice Home Health, Hospice, and Palliative Care of Utah for providing extraordinary care to our mother over the past several months. In lieu of flowers please consider contributing to the Children’s Service Society of Utah, 655 East 4500 South, Suite 200, Salt Lake City, UT 84107.