Beth Stevens McFarlane Wakefield
Beth Stevens McFarlane Wakefield, 98, passed away on January 11, 2011 in Orange CA after a series of recent strokes.
Beth and her twin brother, Bert, were born in Raymond, Alberta, Canada on November 1, 1912. She was the youngest daughter and seventh of eight children. The family immigrated to the United States in 1923 and settled in Utah. She married Raymond R. McFarlane on August 17, 1934, and they made their home in Salt Lake City until the early 50's.
In 1953 the family moved to Moses Lake, Washington. After her husband was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, Beth worked as a secretary for the Moses Lake School District, Boeing Company, and the Army Corps of Engineers at Larson Air Force Base. After the closing of the base in 1966, the family relocated in Layton, Utah where she continued her civil service employment at Hill Air Force Base. Ray passed away in 1975 from complications associated with MS. She later married Claude K. Wakefield, a widower and long-time family friend, and returned to the Pacific Northwest, living in Tukwila, Washington, near Seattle. Several years after Claude's death, she moved to Colorado Springs, CO to be near her daughter, Joan, and then to Orange, CA, where she lived close to her son Richard until her death. A life-long and active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she served in many leadership and teaching positions.
Enjoying excellent health throughout most of her life, she was known for her easy-going disposition, sense of humor and wit, as well as her grace and courage. Even when dementia diminished much of her quality of life in the last few years, she retained her loving, positive attitude and spirit of gratitude. She was cherished and respected by family and friends.
She is survived by three of her four children, Richard Stevens McFarlane (Kathleen) of Orange CA, Kathleen Tracy Mason (Lewis) of Moses Lake, Joan Stout (Richard) of Powder Springs, GA, and 116 grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great great-grandchildren. Her son James Stevens McFarlane predeceased her. Born to Clarence and Edith Stevens, she was the last surviving child. Preceding her in death were her parents, sisters Fern Racker (Leonard D.), Vilate Stevens, Blanche McLaughlin (Thomas L.), and Nedra Pollock (DeVere), and brothers Clarence Ray, Bert, and J. David Stevens. Her brother David Stevens was an early settler in the Moses Lake area where he farmed for many years.
Funeral arrangements are being handled through Larkin Mortuary, 260 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City, UT. The funeral will be held at the mortuary on Saturday, January 22, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. with a viewing at 9:00 a.m..and internment in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.