Dorthene Beck Richardson
1932 - 2020
Early Life: Dorthene was born September 5, 1932, in American Fork, Utah, to Jay Vern and Faye Ellison Beck, the eldest of six children. In her youth, she lived in many places as her father worked in California, Idaho, and Pennsylvania. As a child, Dorthene developed a love of art and painting while at her mother’s side. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Dorthene's testimony of the gospel was developed in small home-based branches of the Church. While in high school, she played basketball and softball, along with the violin, and recalls those years as being idyllic in a post-war small town. In 1950, she graduated from high school in State College, Pennsylvania.
Life’s Work | Service | Interests: Dorthene left home to attend Brigham Young University. In her sophomore year at BYU, she met Keith Erwin Richardson while they both worked in the library, and spent many hours together while cataloguing books. Keith put anonymous poetry in her timecard slot. They were married on June 5, 1952 in the Salt Lake Temple. Two months after their marriage, they were surprised when Keith was drafted into the United States Army during the Korean War and she was left in Utah while he completed basic training at Fort Ord in California. In what she called a “bold move”, Dorthene and two other wives of men serving from Utah, moved to California to be closer to their husbands and lived in a small apartment in Pacific Grove, California, where DeeAnn, their first daughter was born. In succeeding years, the family moved as Keith completed his education at BYU, Purdue University and Michigan State, eventually settling in Upper Arlington, Ohio, where he was employed at Ohio State University. During those years, six more children were born into the family. Dorthene loved those years in Ohio with a large growing family and supportive ward family members in the Columbus 2nd Ward to provide friendship, service opportunities and spiritual strength.
❦ Dorthene had many opportunities to serve in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including twice as stake Relief Society president, and twice as a ward Relief Society president. She was the second stake Relief Society president in the newly formed Columbus Ohio Stake in the early 1960s, and remembers traveling a large portion of the state to assist in developing and strengthening small branches with few members. In addition, she fondly recalls a train trip to the General Relief Society Conference in Utah as her first opportunity to attend meetings in the tabernacle and see and feel the strength of the Church in Utah after so many years far from the Church center. She held other callings in the Church including Young Women president, temple worker, temple preparation teacher, early morning Seminary teacher, and loved her years as compassionate service coordinator in the Orem Suncrest 6th Ward.
❦ Dorthene mentioned that second to her family, she loved to attend and serve in the temple. Along with her husband, she served in the baptistry of the Columbus Ohio Temple for many years and enjoyed meeting and feeling the spirit of the youth of the Church from all across Ohio. She attended the Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple weekly until her health prevented her from doing so.
❦ She spent much of her life taking art classes and improving to be a talented painter. Her home, along with those of her children, was full of paintings both completed and in progress for many years. She was also a professional calligrapher. Dorthene was an accomplished seamstress, making clothes for her children when they were young and money was tight for a growing family. Dorthene was an avid reader and could often be found with a pile of biographies and histories along with art books from the library in her home. She kept busy serving as a docent in the Church History Museum, teaching visitors about Church History while leading tours through the museum.
❦ Dorthene’s life was centered upon her family and her Church; she found her greatest fulfillment in serving not only her family but ward members. In her later years, she could often be found cooking meals and serving ward members in need even while struggling with her health. Her testimony of the Gospel and her wisdom was shared with friend and family alike and strengthened others in their time of need. Dorthene saw the good in everyone and was loved by all. Dorthene Beck Richardson passed away July 3, 2020, in Orem, Utah. She was 87.
Survived By: Her children: DeeAnn Memmott (Vince), Jay Scott (Charlotte), Kerri Johnston (David), Steven Grant (Mary), Mark Allen (Linda) and Stacy Southwick (Mark); 25 grandchildren and 77 great-grandchildren.
Preceded In Death By: Her husband, Keith; her son, Michael Keith; and her parents.
Service: Graveside
Arrangements: Utah Valley Mortuary
Interment: Provo City Cemetery
Obituary: © 2020 | Utah Valley Mortuary
Bio compiled by: Annie Duckett Hundley
1932 - 2020
Early Life: Dorthene was born September 5, 1932, in American Fork, Utah, to Jay Vern and Faye Ellison Beck, the eldest of six children. In her youth, she lived in many places as her father worked in California, Idaho, and Pennsylvania. As a child, Dorthene developed a love of art and painting while at her mother’s side. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Dorthene's testimony of the gospel was developed in small home-based branches of the Church. While in high school, she played basketball and softball, along with the violin, and recalls those years as being idyllic in a post-war small town. In 1950, she graduated from high school in State College, Pennsylvania.
Life’s Work | Service | Interests: Dorthene left home to attend Brigham Young University. In her sophomore year at BYU, she met Keith Erwin Richardson while they both worked in the library, and spent many hours together while cataloguing books. Keith put anonymous poetry in her timecard slot. They were married on June 5, 1952 in the Salt Lake Temple. Two months after their marriage, they were surprised when Keith was drafted into the United States Army during the Korean War and she was left in Utah while he completed basic training at Fort Ord in California. In what she called a “bold move”, Dorthene and two other wives of men serving from Utah, moved to California to be closer to their husbands and lived in a small apartment in Pacific Grove, California, where DeeAnn, their first daughter was born. In succeeding years, the family moved as Keith completed his education at BYU, Purdue University and Michigan State, eventually settling in Upper Arlington, Ohio, where he was employed at Ohio State University. During those years, six more children were born into the family. Dorthene loved those years in Ohio with a large growing family and supportive ward family members in the Columbus 2nd Ward to provide friendship, service opportunities and spiritual strength.
❦ Dorthene had many opportunities to serve in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including twice as stake Relief Society president, and twice as a ward Relief Society president. She was the second stake Relief Society president in the newly formed Columbus Ohio Stake in the early 1960s, and remembers traveling a large portion of the state to assist in developing and strengthening small branches with few members. In addition, she fondly recalls a train trip to the General Relief Society Conference in Utah as her first opportunity to attend meetings in the tabernacle and see and feel the strength of the Church in Utah after so many years far from the Church center. She held other callings in the Church including Young Women president, temple worker, temple preparation teacher, early morning Seminary teacher, and loved her years as compassionate service coordinator in the Orem Suncrest 6th Ward.
❦ Dorthene mentioned that second to her family, she loved to attend and serve in the temple. Along with her husband, she served in the baptistry of the Columbus Ohio Temple for many years and enjoyed meeting and feeling the spirit of the youth of the Church from all across Ohio. She attended the Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple weekly until her health prevented her from doing so.
❦ She spent much of her life taking art classes and improving to be a talented painter. Her home, along with those of her children, was full of paintings both completed and in progress for many years. She was also a professional calligrapher. Dorthene was an accomplished seamstress, making clothes for her children when they were young and money was tight for a growing family. Dorthene was an avid reader and could often be found with a pile of biographies and histories along with art books from the library in her home. She kept busy serving as a docent in the Church History Museum, teaching visitors about Church History while leading tours through the museum.
❦ Dorthene’s life was centered upon her family and her Church; she found her greatest fulfillment in serving not only her family but ward members. In her later years, she could often be found cooking meals and serving ward members in need even while struggling with her health. Her testimony of the Gospel and her wisdom was shared with friend and family alike and strengthened others in their time of need. Dorthene saw the good in everyone and was loved by all. Dorthene Beck Richardson passed away July 3, 2020, in Orem, Utah. She was 87.
Survived By: Her children: DeeAnn Memmott (Vince), Jay Scott (Charlotte), Kerri Johnston (David), Steven Grant (Mary), Mark Allen (Linda) and Stacy Southwick (Mark); 25 grandchildren and 77 great-grandchildren.
Preceded In Death By: Her husband, Keith; her son, Michael Keith; and her parents.
Service: Graveside
Arrangements: Utah Valley Mortuary
Interment: Provo City Cemetery
Obituary: © 2020 | Utah Valley Mortuary
Bio compiled by: Annie Duckett Hundley
Dorthene Beck Richardson
1932 - 2020
Early Life: Dorthene was born September 5, 1932, in American Fork, Utah, to Jay Vern and Faye Ellison Beck, the eldest of six children. In her youth, she lived in many places as her father worked in California, Idaho, and Pennsylvania. As a child, Dorthene developed a love of art and painting while at her mother’s side. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Dorthene's testimony of the gospel was developed in small home-based branches of the Church. While in high school, she played basketball and softball, along with the violin, and recalls those years as being idyllic in a post-war small town. In 1950, she graduated from high school in State College, Pennsylvania.
Life’s Work | Service | Interests: Dorthene left home to attend Brigham Young University. In her sophomore year at BYU, she met Keith Erwin Richardson while they both worked in the library, and spent many hours together while cataloguing books. Keith put anonymous poetry in her timecard slot. They were married on June 5, 1952 in the Salt Lake Temple. Two months after their marriage, they were surprised when Keith was drafted into the United States Army during the Korean War and she was left in Utah while he completed basic training at Fort Ord in California. In what she called a “bold move”, Dorthene and two other wives of men serving from Utah, moved to California to be closer to their husbands and lived in a small apartment in Pacific Grove, California, where DeeAnn, their first daughter was born. In succeeding years, the family moved as Keith completed his education at BYU, Purdue University and Michigan State, eventually settling in Upper Arlington, Ohio, where he was employed at Ohio State University. During those years, six more children were born into the family. Dorthene loved those years in Ohio with a large growing family and supportive ward family members in the Columbus 2nd Ward to provide friendship, service opportunities and spiritual strength.
❦ Dorthene had many opportunities to serve in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including twice as stake Relief Society president, and twice as a ward Relief Society president. She was the second stake Relief Society president in the newly formed Columbus Ohio Stake in the early 1960s, and remembers traveling a large portion of the state to assist in developing and strengthening small branches with few members. In addition, she fondly recalls a train trip to the General Relief Society Conference in Utah as her first opportunity to attend meetings in the tabernacle and see and feel the strength of the Church in Utah after so many years far from the Church center. She held other callings in the Church including Young Women president, temple worker, temple preparation teacher, early morning Seminary teacher, and loved her years as compassionate service coordinator in the Orem Suncrest 6th Ward.
❦ Dorthene mentioned that second to her family, she loved to attend and serve in the temple. Along with her husband, she served in the baptistry of the Columbus Ohio Temple for many years and enjoyed meeting and feeling the spirit of the youth of the Church from all across Ohio. She attended the Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple weekly until her health prevented her from doing so.
❦ She spent much of her life taking art classes and improving to be a talented painter. Her home, along with those of her children, was full of paintings both completed and in progress for many years. She was also a professional calligrapher. Dorthene was an accomplished seamstress, making clothes for her children when they were young and money was tight for a growing family. Dorthene was an avid reader and could often be found with a pile of biographies and histories along with art books from the library in her home. She kept busy serving as a docent in the Church History Museum, teaching visitors about Church History while leading tours through the museum.
❦ Dorthene’s life was centered upon her family and her Church; she found her greatest fulfillment in serving not only her family but ward members. In her later years, she could often be found cooking meals and serving ward members in need even while struggling with her health. Her testimony of the Gospel and her wisdom was shared with friend and family alike and strengthened others in their time of need. Dorthene saw the good in everyone and was loved by all. Dorthene Beck Richardson passed away July 3, 2020, in Orem, Utah. She was 87.
Survived By: Her children: DeeAnn Memmott (Vince), Jay Scott (Charlotte), Kerri Johnston (David), Steven Grant (Mary), Mark Allen (Linda) and Stacy Southwick (Mark); 25 grandchildren and 77 great-grandchildren.
Preceded In Death By: Her husband, Keith; her son, Michael Keith; and her parents.
Service: Graveside
Arrangements: Utah Valley Mortuary
Interment: Provo City Cemetery
Obituary: © 2020 | Utah Valley Mortuary
Bio compiled by: Annie Duckett Hundley
1932 - 2020
Early Life: Dorthene was born September 5, 1932, in American Fork, Utah, to Jay Vern and Faye Ellison Beck, the eldest of six children. In her youth, she lived in many places as her father worked in California, Idaho, and Pennsylvania. As a child, Dorthene developed a love of art and painting while at her mother’s side. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Dorthene's testimony of the gospel was developed in small home-based branches of the Church. While in high school, she played basketball and softball, along with the violin, and recalls those years as being idyllic in a post-war small town. In 1950, she graduated from high school in State College, Pennsylvania.
Life’s Work | Service | Interests: Dorthene left home to attend Brigham Young University. In her sophomore year at BYU, she met Keith Erwin Richardson while they both worked in the library, and spent many hours together while cataloguing books. Keith put anonymous poetry in her timecard slot. They were married on June 5, 1952 in the Salt Lake Temple. Two months after their marriage, they were surprised when Keith was drafted into the United States Army during the Korean War and she was left in Utah while he completed basic training at Fort Ord in California. In what she called a “bold move”, Dorthene and two other wives of men serving from Utah, moved to California to be closer to their husbands and lived in a small apartment in Pacific Grove, California, where DeeAnn, their first daughter was born. In succeeding years, the family moved as Keith completed his education at BYU, Purdue University and Michigan State, eventually settling in Upper Arlington, Ohio, where he was employed at Ohio State University. During those years, six more children were born into the family. Dorthene loved those years in Ohio with a large growing family and supportive ward family members in the Columbus 2nd Ward to provide friendship, service opportunities and spiritual strength.
❦ Dorthene had many opportunities to serve in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including twice as stake Relief Society president, and twice as a ward Relief Society president. She was the second stake Relief Society president in the newly formed Columbus Ohio Stake in the early 1960s, and remembers traveling a large portion of the state to assist in developing and strengthening small branches with few members. In addition, she fondly recalls a train trip to the General Relief Society Conference in Utah as her first opportunity to attend meetings in the tabernacle and see and feel the strength of the Church in Utah after so many years far from the Church center. She held other callings in the Church including Young Women president, temple worker, temple preparation teacher, early morning Seminary teacher, and loved her years as compassionate service coordinator in the Orem Suncrest 6th Ward.
❦ Dorthene mentioned that second to her family, she loved to attend and serve in the temple. Along with her husband, she served in the baptistry of the Columbus Ohio Temple for many years and enjoyed meeting and feeling the spirit of the youth of the Church from all across Ohio. She attended the Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple weekly until her health prevented her from doing so.
❦ She spent much of her life taking art classes and improving to be a talented painter. Her home, along with those of her children, was full of paintings both completed and in progress for many years. She was also a professional calligrapher. Dorthene was an accomplished seamstress, making clothes for her children when they were young and money was tight for a growing family. Dorthene was an avid reader and could often be found with a pile of biographies and histories along with art books from the library in her home. She kept busy serving as a docent in the Church History Museum, teaching visitors about Church History while leading tours through the museum.
❦ Dorthene’s life was centered upon her family and her Church; she found her greatest fulfillment in serving not only her family but ward members. In her later years, she could often be found cooking meals and serving ward members in need even while struggling with her health. Her testimony of the Gospel and her wisdom was shared with friend and family alike and strengthened others in their time of need. Dorthene saw the good in everyone and was loved by all. Dorthene Beck Richardson passed away July 3, 2020, in Orem, Utah. She was 87.
Survived By: Her children: DeeAnn Memmott (Vince), Jay Scott (Charlotte), Kerri Johnston (David), Steven Grant (Mary), Mark Allen (Linda) and Stacy Southwick (Mark); 25 grandchildren and 77 great-grandchildren.
Preceded In Death By: Her husband, Keith; her son, Michael Keith; and her parents.
Service: Graveside
Arrangements: Utah Valley Mortuary
Interment: Provo City Cemetery
Obituary: © 2020 | Utah Valley Mortuary
Bio compiled by: Annie Duckett Hundley
Inscription
MARRIED JUNE 5, 1952
Gravesite Details
Interment 11 July 2020
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
See more Richardson or Beck memorials in:
- Provo City Cemetery Richardson or Beck
- Provo Richardson or Beck
- Utah County Richardson or Beck
- Utah Richardson or Beck
- USA Richardson or Beck
- Find a Grave Richardson or Beck
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
