Norma Beth Dean

Our loving mother, Norma Beth Dean passed away January 4, 2018.  Norma was born in Salt Lake City on November 13, 1926 to Kurt Waldemar Schmidt and Else Klara Heimann.  She was the fifth of six children and the third of four girls, and at 91 was the only surviving member of her immediate family. She spent her early years growing up on Downington Avenue near Liberty Park and graduated from South High School.  She married David Howard Dean (deceased) on August 22, 1946. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.

David and Norma were blessed with five surviving children: Karen Elsa Haskin (William “Bill”, deceased), Brent Howard Dean, Barton David Dean (Carol), Donetta Dean, and William “Bill” Kurt Dean (Carol), 19 grandchildren, and 36 great-grandchildren, with two additional expected. Norma was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, husband, an infant grandson and an infant great-granddaughter.

During her last year of high school and her first year of marriage, Norma began work as a clerk typist at General Electric, then as a caterer for Utah Food Services when her children began school. She continued to work throughout the years to provide lessons in piano, dance, gymnastics, and to support all three of their sons on LDS missions.

One of Mom’s favorite jobs was at LDS Social Services in crisis intervention.  She was instrumental in linking clients in need quickly with resources to provide a lifeline and to resolve immediate crisis situations.  After retiring from her working career, she faithfully served as a fulltime volunteer in the Salt Lake Temple. With her husband David, she also spent many years as an LDS volunteer at the VA hospital ministering to local veterans in Salt Lake City.  They received a number of awards for their work and earned the respect of prominent church leaders and local leaders in the community.

Norma’s mother passed away when she was a teenager, so she taught herself to sew, crafting beautiful dresses and clothing for herself and her daughters.  She was known for her fashion style, loved to dress well to go shopping in downtown Salt Lake City, and to attend church.  Mom paid great attention to detail with the beautiful items she crocheted, embroidered, and knitted.  Her skill was reflected in the porcelain fashioned into beautiful hand-painted dolls, cherished by her family.   She was an avid reader and loved biographies, and spent many hours constructing family history books for each of her children to include photos, narratives, and genealogy to continue her work.  She loved to swim in lakes and pools; her favorite attraction at old Lagoon was the “1,000,000 Gallon Pool.”

In her later years, Norma enjoyed traveling both internationally and in the US.  She especially loved her trips to visit church history sites and pageants.  She loved learning new things, and was ahead of her time in her sense of style, sewing, and music.  She enjoyed family gatherings, dining out, and was always in the mood for chocolate.

Mom was always the peacemaker.  She remained active and faithful to her LDS beliefs throughout her life, exemplifying a Christlike love for others, and avoided unkind words and malicious gossip.  By her loving example, she taught all of us faith, forgiveness, prayer, patience, and service to others.

After the passing of her husband, Mom moved to St. George, Utah in 2001 to be closer to more of her family, where she lived until the time of her passing, and enjoyed many friends there who loved and supported her. 

A viewing will be held Friday January 12th from 6:00-8:00 PM at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 255 South 200 East, Salt Lake City, Utah.  Visitation will also be held at the Holladay 26th Ward, 4561 S. Chapel St., Holladay, Utah from 9:30 – 10:30AM on Saturday January 13th with funeral services to begin at 11:00AM. A memorial services will be held on Saturday, January 20th at the Green Valley 3rd Ward, 1282 W. 500 S. Circle, Off Indian Hills Drive in St. George at 11:00 am.