Funeral Service, One time Road, Yorkshire Pudding, Eternal Commitments

This last week we celebrated the life of Leona Fae Blocher Betteridge, Mont's mother, with a funeral service on Feb 18th, the day after her 93rd birthday.   Her passing was truly a gift to her.  She often expressed in recent months how she wanted to go and join her family on the other side of the veil, and so she did... passing gracefully and quickly on February 4th in the evening.  She had been so active and busy up to the day before her passing, and had gone to the theater with Ben's family just the evening before to view "The Chosen".

She exemplified following the Savior and loving and serving others as He did.  Here is a special excerpt from her journal that was shared at her memorial service:

  "I truly feel love comes and grows from serving others and sharing. I pray to be more spiritually attuned and more kind and loving, and helpful to others. I am amazed at the love Heavenly Father has for us. One truth I’ve learned is that when we serve others, we love them more, and then we appreciate life more. My heart goes out to our grandchildren and great-grandchildren and the coming generations. I pray for guidance for them and wise choices. I love them all so very much. I know our beautiful gospel  [of Jesus Christ] holds the answers for a happy and full life. I have learned or proven to myself that serving others is what makes us happiest in this life. I have truly been blessed beyond measure. I’m most grateful for our restored gospel which has been an anchor and beacon for me these many fulfilling, happy years. Gordon B Hinckley surely has touched my heart, and I especially liked a talk where he said, “there is no end to the good we can do, to the influence we can have with others. Let us not dwell on the critical or the negative. Let us pray for strength, let us pray for the capacity and desire to assist others. Let us radiate the light of the gospel at all times and in all places, that the Spirit of the Redeemer may radiate from us.”

A favorite quote that was posted in her grandmother's home (Bessie Hope Kauffman Blocher) impressed Lee as a child and so she subsequently posted it in her home for all of us to enjoy and ponder as we grew up; we pass this way but once.

When we welcomed our first baby boy, Jared Lamont, back in 1978, dear Mother Lee came to visit and made a sweet comment about his hands and their potential for good.  She pointed out that those little hands would be able to accomplish much good throughout his life.  We seemed to have come full circle as Sister Betteridge was honored to help prepare Lee's body for burial--  memories of the numerous acts of good service that Lee's dear hands had provided throughout her long, loving life brought tender thoughts of gratitude & deep appreciation for her life. 

 

All of Lee's children were able to attend the funeral service and some of her grandchildren and great grandchildren;  all of our children attended and most of our grandchildren.  We had several fun evenings playing games together and reminiscing.  

We express our sincere and deep appreciation to Krista and Tyler Shawcroft and to  Molly and Stefan Gehring for hosting our large family in their homes; they so impressed us with their kindness and generosity.  We will never forget this selfless act of service.

As we left from Leeds England to go to Seattle we were able to enjoy a fun Valentine's dinner at a pub/restaurant near the airport and loved our first Yorkshire pudding.  We love our forever marriage. 

It is important to mention that we had a chance to visit the Seattle Temple for an endowment session while we were in the Northwest for the funeral service.  After participating in this sacred ordinance and as we met each other in the Celestial Room of the temple, we each came up with the same word that summarized our experience: "Clarity".  The temple provides clarity from which to view life; it gives us greater purpose in our ups and downs throughout life and a blueprint for how to live our life.

 The Gospel of Jesus Christ is beautifully simple, and simply beautiful! 

(Sister Patricia Holland, January 2023)