Betty Louise Fife Beus

Betty Louise Fife Beus, of Farmington, Utah, peacefully passed away on October 31, 2024. She was born on January 20, 1934, in Weston, Idaho, to Luther and Louise Fife. As the youngest of twelve siblings—Venna, Maurine, Lavere (Sandy), Dean, Leo, Gayle, Henry (Hank), John (Jack), Duane, Lila, Dennis, Vivian and herself—Betty was often described by family members as the glue that held their blended family together. She cherished and loved them all deeply.

Betty grew up in a close-knit rural farming community, where her father worked as a contractor, creating chapels and buildings that served the local area and beyond. She attended high school in Nyssa, Oregon, and graduated in 1952, leaving a lasting impression as a talented majorette, a pianist for the orchestra, and a singer in musicals. She graduated as the class salutatorian. After spending a year at BYU, Betty happily dedicated herself to a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Texas-Louisiana mission.

After returning from her mission, Betty married her high school sweetheart, Ersel (West) Beus, in the Idaho Falls Temple on December 15, 1954. Together, they welcomed six beautiful children: Michael, Jana, Carilee, Steven, Stanley, and Kirt. Betty was a devoted companion to West as they worked side by side on their family farms in Washington, Michigan, Arizona, and Oregon.

Musically talented, Betty filled their home with love and music. She served as a pianist and organist in various church wards and the temple, sharing her beautiful voice in quartets and choirs throughout her life. She loved attending musicals and plays with friends and family, and even in her later years, when faced with some dementia, she could still sing or hum countless songs.

Betty pursued nursing school in her mid-40s and practiced as a registered nurse for ten fulfilling years. She also had a passion for travel, and after her children grew up, she and West explored the world together, visiting places like Egypt, Greece, Israel, and Mexico. She created wonderful travel memories with close friends and family throughout her life, such as France, Peru and China. (And all of those who have traveled with her know how much she enjoyed those trips and treasured time spent with them!)

In the mid-’90s, when West developed an autoimmune condition, they sold the farm and realized their dream of serving a mission together in the London North mission in England. Sadly, West passed away on January 17, 2003. Five years later, Betty moved to Farmington, Utah, to be closer to her children. While living in Utah, she faced the loss of her dear son, Stanley, on August 9, 2013.

Betty is survived by her five of her 6 children: Michael Beus (Sallee), Jana Beus (Jim), Carilee Dustin (Rockie), Steven Beus (Tracy), Kirt Beus (April), (and their spouses) and Stanley's wife Misti, along with 24 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren (and three precious infants in heaven). Betty cherished all of her family and friends throughout her life. 

West adored Betty, often saying, “Bet’s the best thing that ever happened to me.” They were inseparable, and the children all remember him calling out, “Come on, Bet. Let’s go.” It has been a long time since his departure, but now he has issued his final call: “Come and join me, Bet.”

Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 9, 2024, at 1309 Park Avenue, Nyssa, OR with a viewing at 8:30 am and the funeral service at 9:30 a.m. Interment to follow at Hilltop Memorial Cemetery, 690 Hilltop Road, Nyssa, OR.

The family also wishes to express gratitude to the kind and loving caregivers at Legacy and Creekside during this final chapter of Betty’s life here on earth.