Edna Elizabeth Garrett Sheffield Betenson Olsen

            My father’s parents lived in a small area in the rolling hills of Oklahoma in a place called Stella.  They were ill so my parents John and Valie Garrett left their home in Colorado with three children and went south to take care of ailing parents.  Here, I was born on June 8, 1931.  Delivered by a colored mid-wife who could not read or write but was good at delivering babies. 

            I had a very happy childhood.  There were seven children born to my mother and father.  Three girls and four boys and I was right in the middle.  I always thought the middle was a very comfortable place to be.  When I was young, I learned to work hard during the depression years.  While only a child I would work all day long in the fields of the family farm planting, weeding, and picking tomatoes that were grown for the local cannery, this was along with other family chores.  I attended school in Colorado, Oklahoma, and Utah.  We lived just outside of Grand Junction, Colorado until I was twelve years old then we moved to Bountiful then to Farmington where I lived until I was married and moved to Kaysville.  I graduated from Davis High School in 1949.

            I married Hal Smedley Sheffield when I was eighteen years old in the Salt Lake Temple.  We were blessed with three beautiful children, two girls and one boy.  We lived in Kaysville for 26 years.  I worked as the head secretary at Davis High School for 18 years.  In 1977 Hal and I divorced.  In 1978 I was introduced to Howard Betenson, we were married on April 7, 1979.  Three weeks later the bishop called us on a mission.  We were sent to North Dakota and lived on an Indian reservation for 18 months.  North Dakota is absolutely the coldest spot on earth but we loved it and cried when we left.  Howard died on July 30, 2005, and shortly after I married Paul Olsen who also preceded me in death. 

            I love The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I have held many positions in all organizations.  I loved being a member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and am very proud of my ancestors who sacrificed so much for my benefit.  I am also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.  I love people and have enjoyed the opportunities that Howard and I have had to travel to many different countries.  I had many hobbies to keep me busy. 

            Along with my three children and their spouses I have six grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. 

            This obituary was written by Edna Olsen prior to her death and was found in her paperwork and submitted just as written.

            Along with this obituary, the family would like to thank the wonderful nurses and CNA’s that took care of our mother and at the end, the Hospice nurses that attended to her every need.

           Graveside services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, at the Salt Lake City Cemetery, 200 “N” Street, Salt Lake City, Utah.

           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.