Mary Elen Bennett Belnap 1927 ~ 2010 Our "Sweet Elen" has returned home to a saintly rest. Among the best of souls, she graced this world with virtue and left it a far better place. Mary Elen was born October 20, 1927 and passed away on October 2nd, 2010, having fought cancer courageously for 25 years. She lived as an amazing example of optimistic resilience. To the very end, she embraced life and loved her association with family and friends who returned that pure love in kind. Mary Elen was raised on Harvard Avenue in Salt Lake City, the second of eight children born to Emily Higgs and Harold H. Bennett. She attended the University of Utah where she was president of the Women Students from 1948-49 before graduating with a degree in Elementary Education. Columbia University offered her a graduate fellowship, which she turned down to marry her sweetheart. Mary Elen and Wilford Dean Belnap were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on July 7th, 1950 - a marriage literally made in heaven. In their 60 years together they built a family of six children, 29 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren. The Savior's decree to love our fellow men was second nature to Mary Elen. She was selfless and charitable, giving of time, talents, and resources. She served valiantly in numerous callings throughout her life. Her great love of the gospel of Jesus Christ was manifest in her willingness to do anything asked of her. Mary Elen and Dean served three missions, in London, England from 1969-72; Jakarta, Indonesia from 1992-93; and Frankfurt, Germany from 2003-04. Mary Elen had a passion for beautiful music. She chaired the bicentennial music program for Davis County, wrote original music for roadshows, was a ward choir director and, at the onset of her illness, was the primary music leader. She would break out in singing in the cathedrals of Europe, the subway in London, and once led an impromptu choir of tourists in a church in Israel. In the years from 1964-69 she organized musical venues for the Community Concerts Association, at one time hosting the Vienna Boys Choir in her home. Kind and childlike - a person without guile, Mary Elen never felt anyone was beneath her. Like Father in Heaven, she was no respecter of persons and treated a beggar on the street with the same dignity she showed Prince Phillip when she met him in London at Buckingham Palace. In her travels throughout the world many people she met enjoyed a brief but memorable association with her as she would converse openly and warmly with strangers as she did with friends. Mary Elen is survived by her husband Dean, six children, Rosann Balmer (Jared), Paul Belnap (Elizabeth), Louise Jorgensen (David), Eric Belnap (Laura), Grant Belnap (Carol), David Belnap (Tina); 25 grandchildren; 18 great-grand-children; one sister, Rose Bennett Jenkins; four brothers, John Bennett, Michael Bennett, Peter Bennett, Stephen Bennett. She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters and a sister-in-law, Susan Bennett Winters, Ann Bennett Lowden and Moana Bennett; a brother-in-law, J Richard Jenkins; four grandchildren, Stephen Oscarson Belnap, Sarah Joy Belnap, Sarah Jane Belnap and James (Bubba) Belnap; and one great-grandchild, Oliver David Connell. The family wishes to acknowledge all those who have cared for Mary Elen so lovingly, knowing that words alone are simply inadequate to express the gratitude we feel for so much help. We particularly wish to thank Dr. Saundra Buys and her team at the Huntsman Cancer Center. Just four months ago, Mary Elen walked in "Race for the Cure," whole-heartedly carrying on her support of Breast Cancer Awareness. Funeral services will be held Thursday, October 7th 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at the Kaysville West Stake Center, 270 West Burton Lane, Kaysville, Utah. Friends may visit the family Wednesday evening October 6th from 6:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at the Russon Brothers Mortuary, Bountiful, Utah and from 9:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. at the chapel prior to the funeral.
Published in Salt Lake Tribune from October 5 to October 6, 2010