Beverly Ostler Pearson

Our mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend, Beverly Ostler Pearson, passed peacefully from this life on February 6, 2024, surrounded by family. She lived a life of service, hard work, and adventure that spanned over 99 years. We take comfort knowing she was given a glorious welcome home by her eternal sweetheart and many loved ones beyond the veil.

Beverly grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah, the only child of Alva Owen Ostler and Ruth Rosquist. She graduated from South High School, where she had opted for an additional year of secretarial training and bookkeeping. During her last year at South, she met a handsome young man at church. Owen Pearson had recently moved to Salt Lake City from Missouri and had joined the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Beverly played the piano, and she became Owen’s favorite accompanist when he sang. They were married and sealed in the Salt Lake Temple in 1943 while Owen was home on leave from the Army during World War II. Beverly spent the first years of their marriage traveling with Owen to various army posts around the country and doing clerical work. They were blessed to share 72 years of marriage before Owen’s passing.

After the war, they settled in Salt Lake City, where Owen attended the University of Utah, Beverly worked, and they soon started their family. They were the parents of five children. Family was most important to Beverly, and she became an amazing, devoted homemaker who could stretch the family budget in extraordinary ways. When possible, she employed her clerical, sewing and entrepreneurial skills to bring in additional money. She sewed beautiful doll clothes that she sold at local department stores and also made prom and bridesmaid dresses. Even on a tight budget, she always provided delicious and nutritious meals for her family. She baked fabulous pies and cakes for holidays and special occasions, and handed down many food traditions. She worked very hard to make holidays and birthdays memorable and fun for her children and grandchildren.

Beverly sacrificed much of her time, energy, and other resources to make sure her children could develop their talents and receive higher educations. When her younger children were in school, she returned to full time work, first as an office manager for the Utah Lung Association and later as a secretary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints where she loved being a part of the Audio-Visual Department.

Beverly was a faithful, active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and served in many callings including Primary and Relief Society presidencies. After being a “choir spouse” to her husband for many years, she worked up the courage to audition for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir herself. She passed the audition and was honored to serve as a “musical missionary” for nearly 15 years. She traveled with the choir to many places throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and the far East. She sang her testimony on concert stages and at Presidential Inaugurals.

After retirement, Beverly and Owen were called to serve an 18-month church mission to Vienna, Austria. With barely two weeks to prepare, they accepted the call and loved the people and experiences they got to share. It became one of the highlights of their lives. Following their mission, they continued to enjoy traveling with friends and family members. One of their last big adventures together was a cruise through the Panama Canal.

Beverly was an example of faith, courage, and enduring to the end. She prayed and read scriptures daily. Even as her physical abilities declined, she kept busy and kept her mind sharp by doing beautiful crochet work, playing the piano, reading, keeping her journal, doing jigsaw puzzles, watching Jeopardy, and beating us at card games. She managed to stay in her home with the help of her devoted son, and she remained fiercely determined to care for herself as much as physically possible.

Beverly is survived by her five children: Claudia Edam-Pyne (Robert Pyne), Brandt (Terri), Alan, Michele Spencer (Joseph), and Gina Phan (Dennis). She is also survived by a brother-in-law, 11 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, 5 great-great grandchildren, plus 15 step-grandchildren, 55 step-great-grandchildren, and 38 step-great-great grandchildren.She was preceded in death by her husband, Owen Pearson, son-in-law Donald Edam, plus 5 step-grandsons and 2 step-great-grandsons.

Funeral services will be held Friday, February 16, 2024 at 11:00 am at the Olympus 4th Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2675 East 4430 South, Holladay, UT. Visitation will precede the services from 9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Interment will take place following the funeral service at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 East 10600 South, Sandy, UT.

Our family wishes to thank all the doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers who gave our mother such tender care during her final years. Her life was miraculously spared by the quick response of paramedics, doctors, nurses, and staff at St. Mark’s hospital following a massive heart attack when she was 87, and she was subsequently able to care for our dad in his final years. We are grateful for the gift of those precious years of her life.

Those wishing to view the COMPLETED service via Zoom can click "Watch Service" or follow the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/ykJzVAZHT2Q0O7bdWyHWfFTSIkRNs3XVVTTDEYfykpCqJeoHJtDbn7uvV0AQP8Ta.bHFbWHmOrrN8-YSf?startTime=1708104764000