Beverly Amussen Benson Parker passed away on October 12, 2024, at age 87, in Logan, Utah. She was born to devoted parents, Ezra Taft Benson and Flora Amussen Benson, the fourth of six children. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, James Mac Parker; her parents; and three of her siblings: Reed Benson; Mark Benson and his wife, Lela; Barbara Walker and her husband, Robert; and brother-in-law, Lowell Madsen (Bonnie). Beverly was buried in a private service in the Whitney, Idaho Cemetery. 

Devotion to God, her family, and her country were hallmarks of Beverly's life.

She was born in Boise, Idaho, on September 20, 1937, but spent most of her childhood and teenage years in the Washington, D.C. area and in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Benson family, with two boys and four girls, loved spending time together, and their home was frequently a place of gathering. 

From a young age, Beverly's family was in the spotlight, as her father served in several public roles -- as national leader of an agricultural organization, as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, and as a worldwide leader, and eventually, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. During the years her father served in President Eisenhower's cabinet, she traveled with her parents to over 35 countries, attended events at the White House, and helped host guests at the Benson home. In 1954, the Benson family appeared on Edward R. Murrow's "Person to Person" TV show. Each family member was interviewed briefly and several musical numbers were performed. Beverly sang with her sisters, and accompanied other numbers on the piano. 

Beverly was an outstanding sewing student, and during her senior year of high school, was a member of the Teen Fashion Board of McCall's School Stylist, a magazine for home economics classrooms. As a college student, she attended Brigham Young University, University of Utah, and the University of Maryland. At BYU, she was a soloist in the A Capella Choir, active in student government, and a Cougarette. She also studied voice with Rose Bampton, of the Metropolitan Opera, in New York City. In 1959, she made her formal singing debut at a private concert held at the Anderson House in Washington, D.C. The event received national media coverage. 

In 1961, in the Salt Lake Temple, Beverly married her eternal sweetheart, Jim, with the ceremony being performed by her father. They were blessed with four children, two daughters and two sons, and lived in Washington, D.C.; Boise, Idaho; Denver, Colorado; Burke and Springfield, Virginia; and Salt Lake City, Utah. They were married for 56 years. Their first date was on the 4th of July, and they would often say, "And there have been fireworks ever since!" 

Beverly and Jim were living in Virginia with their young family when the Church's Washington D.C. Temple was completed. They were honored to serve on a planning committee for the open house and dedication. A few years later, during the Christmas season, the Parker family performed at the Temple Visitors' Center, and Beverly designed and decorated a tree for the Festival of Lights. As an accomplished pianist, organist and vocalist, much of Beverly's Church service was in music. She also taught and led in the Church's organizations for children and youth, and for women. And she supported her husband as he served as a bishop in Denver and Salt Lake City. 

Her most important and cherished roles were that of wife, mother, and homemaker. She was devoted to her husband and children, and had a great desire to be at the crossroads of her children's lives.

A defining experience for their young family came in 1978, when they were called as leaders of the Finland Helsinki Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. During their three years there, the Parker family hosted arriving and departing missionaries in the mission home and held frequent gatherings for those learning about the Church. Beverly supervised the remodeling of the mission home and office, and invited a group from the U.S. Embassy to tour the home. The family traveled throughout Finland to participate in meetings of missionaries and members, and presented a devotional focused on the life of Jesus Christ using art, scripture and music, in 33 cities. 

As a young girl, Beverly often heard her father speak of his visit to Finland as part of the Church's post-World War II relief efforts. During his service as Secretary of Agriculture, Beverly accompanied him on an official trip to Finland, and felt a great love for the Finnish people. She rejoiced in returning to Finland years later with her husband, who had served a mission there as a young adult. And she delighted in learning about and sharing Finnish culture, history, music and traditions with their children and newly-arrived missionaries. The country and its people will forever hold a special place in the hearts of the Parker family. 

Beverly mothered her missionary sons and daughters, and ministered to them one by one. Each parent of a missionary received a handwritten note and a photo of their missionary's arrival. Each missionary received a handwritten birthday card. Each received a homemade Christmas stocking loaded with goodies, and a letter from their parents -- which took months of planning and organizing in those pre-internet days. She prayed for her missionaries and knew each by name; she taught them, she fed them, and—most of all—she loved them. And on occasion, she injected a bit of humor into life in the mission home. A new missionary might be asked to help with breakfast, and be quite surprised to find green (dyed) milk pouring from the carton. Or mission office staff might be enjoying their strawberry-filled crepes and suddenly discover a bite of ketchup. She preferred laughter to tears, though as she bore testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel throughout Finland, her tears of gratitude and joy were often overflowing. Her children and her missionaries have many memories of President Parker handing his handkerchief to Sister Parker. And whenever they were seated next to each other, they always held hands. 

During the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, Beverly and Jim helped organize welcoming events for the President of Finland and the Finnish athletes. At the suggestion of Beverly, one of the events featured a choir of American, returned missionaries singing Sibelius' Finlandia. They sang in Finnish with such excellence and with such feeling, that at the conclusion of the event, one Finnish reporter was sure the choir was from Finland. One of the great joys of Beverly and Jim's later years was returning to "Suomi" in 2006 for the dedication of the Finland Helsinki Temple. In 2022, Beverly narrated a brief video commemorating the 75th anniversary of the creation of the Church's mission in Finland, which was shown as part of a two-day, country-wide celebration. 

Their years in Salt Lake City highlighted the Parker's hospitality, as she and Jim hosted numerous events in their home from family gatherings and celebrations to concerts. There was always quiet background music playing, and the dining room table was laden with a beautiful and delicious array of refreshments. Guests typically left with a little treat to take home. For 20 years, Beverly served as social chairman for the Gateway Condominiums, organizing dinners and programs for all of the residents. 

Through the years, and in each place they lived, their home was a place of welcome. Often, those who visited noted the spirit they felt there, with some commenting that it reminded them of the temple. Friends who visited the Parker home in their youth have shared that their experiences there impacted them as adults. They felt something special, and they wanted that feeling in their future families and homes. Beverly taught her posterity to love the celestial in this life -- to surround themselves with celestial music, books, art and entertainment. She and Jim created a home centered on Jesus Christ and His teachings. 

The Salt Lake years also brought the opportunity for Beverly to live near her parents, and to be of assistance to them in the final season of their lives. They lived in the same building, and she would often play the piano for them and sing with them. She enjoyed decorating their home for Christmas, and they would often join the Parker family for Sunday dinners and holidays. When it became too difficult for her father to attend church on Sundays, the sacrament was often provided for him in the Parker home.

After the death of Beverly's parents, the last several years of Beverly and Jim's married life were spent in the Washington, D.C. area, where they had met, courted, lived as newlyweds, and raised their young family. Together, they enjoyed reliving sweet memories there, attending the Washington D.C. Temple, and spending time with their growing posterity. Then they returned to Salt Lake City, where Jim passed a few months later, in 2018. Following his death, Beverly lived in the homes of each of her children, filling each home with music, and enjoying generations of her posterity. Often, as Beverly planned outings, gatherings, holidays, and events for her young family, her children would say, "Mom's making a memory!" She made all occasions memorable. 

As Beverly's battle with Alzheimer's grew more challenging, she lived in The Landing in Maryland, The Vero in Delaware, and Sunshine Terrace in Utah. The Parker children are grateful for the compassionate care their mother received, and express appreciation for each caregiver who assisted her in recent years. 

She is survived by her children, Flora McConkie (Robert), Jim Parker (Tasha), Grace Sorensen (Dan), Scott Parker (MaurLo); twenty-eight grandchildren; and twenty-one great-grandchildren. She is also survived by two sisters, Bonnie Madsen (Lowell) and Beth Burton and her husband, David; and by a sister-in-law, May Benson (Reed).

Beverly's posterity is forever grateful for her faithful and valiant example of a covenant-keeper in Christ. They are rejoicing in the heavenly reunions she is having, particularly with her adoring husband, Jim. For years, this framed message hung in the Parker home: "Christmas is more than a day at the end of the year, more than a season of joy and good cheer. Christmas is really God's pattern for living, to be followed each day by unselfish giving. Then peace on earth will come to stay, when we live Christmas every day." (Adapted from a poem by Helen Steiner Rice.) Beverly will be remembered as one who lived Christmas every day by loving the Lord Jesus Christ and others with all of her heart -- and enjoying Christmas music year-round!  

For updates about a future memorial service to celebrate Beverly’s life, please email the Parker family at: UpdatesFromParkerFamily@gmail.com.