Betty Marie Johnson Hefford
Betty Marie Johnson Hefford
1928 ~ 2024
Betty Marie Johnson Hefford was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on December 21,1928 to Robert (Bob) Cook Johnson and Myrtle Saunders. She the first of 2 children. Her sister Shauna Ann Johnson Thoreson was born 6 years later on January 24, 1934. Shauna passed away on March 11, 2022.
Betty lived in Park City, Utah until about the age of 2 or 3, then the family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, where she attended Uinta grade school. She lived close to her grandparents John and Martha Saunders and spoke fondly of the time spent with them.
Betty had many good friends while living in Salt Lake City. She was the ringleader of their many activities, which does not surprise anyone who knew Betty, with her fun loving, outgoing personality.
In 1942 at the age of 13, the family moved to Portland, Oregon so her father, could work in the shipyards. Betty attended and graduated from Grant High School in 1946.
Following her graduation from high school, she enrolled in the nursing program at the University of Portland. In addition to going to school she worked at the hospital and also was a cheerleader for the college athletic teams. Betty said that “these were fun times, but also a lot of hard work and responsibility.”
Her training in nursing proved to be helpful as later in life, she took into her home and cared for both her parents and mother in-law in the final years of their lives. This serves an example of her kind heart and willingness to serve others.
On May 1, 1948, Betty married Irvin Louis Hefford, in Portland Oregon. Soon after their marriage, they built a home in Lake Oswego, Oregon. While living in Lake Oswego, Betty gave birth to, and raised 4 children, Diana, Susan, Douglas and Becky. Betty’s husband Irv preceded her in death on January 25, 2005. Her son Doug passed away on March 13, 1995.
Betty was very active, she loved to ski, she played weekly tennis matches with friends and hiked with a community hiking club. She also climbed mountains in Oregon and Washington, including Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, and the Three Sisters.
One of her greatest loves was the beach. She and Irv owned a beach cabin in Cannon Beach, Oregon. The cabin was a favorite gathering spot for family reunions and a wonderful place to enjoy the beautiful view of the ocean.
Betty was an active, faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She served in many different callings and was always looking for opportunities to serve others. Betty enjoyed doing family history work and attended the temple weekly to perform temple ordinances for her ancestors.
As her health began to decline, she moved to Highland, Utah, in 2021 to be close to family there. Betty always had lots of friends. Even while living at the assisted living facility, the other residents and workers would often say, how much they loved her and how much fun she was to be around.
Betty passed away due to natural causes on May 20, 2024 while living at the Highland Glen Assisted Living Center, in Highland, Utah.
Betty is survived by her three daughters, Diana (Mark) Bryant, Susan (Steven) Doty, Becky (Klev) Schoening, 14 grandchildren, Aaron, Tracy, Edith, Petter, Mikal, Sarah, Robin, and Adam Bryant, Ian, Eli, Hannah and Leah Doty, Kohl and Stine Schoening, 32 great grandchildren and 2 great, great grandchildren.
A viewing will be held for Betty on Saturday, May 25, 2024 from 4:00 to 5:00 pm at the Warenski Funeral Home, Located at 1776 North 900 East, American Fork, Utah. Betty will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband Irvin at the Oswego Pioneer Cemetery in Lake Oswego, Oregon.