Therald Beckstrand

Therald C Beckstrand, 88, passed away Saturday, June 8, 2019 in Orem, Utah. Therald was born at home in Meadow, Utah on February 26, 1931 to Joseph Clifton Beckstrand and Laura Swallow Beckstrand. He attended elementary school in Meadow and secondary school at Millard High School in Fillmore, Utah. Therald began playing the cornet in grade school and continued playing trumpet in dance orchestras through his first two years of college. Always a proud Millard Eagle, he served as Senior Class President, played in the high school band, and competed as a middle distance runner on the Millard track team. Later, Therald ran track at Brigham Young University.

After graduating high school one year early, Therald attended BYU for two years, prior to serving a church mission in Hawaii. Following his mission, he married Joan Hardman in the Salt Lake Temple on January 28, 1953. One week after their wedding, Therald reported for duty in the United States Air Force, where he served in ground radio communications during the Korean Conflict.

After his discharge from the Air Force, Therald earned a B.A. and M.A. degree from BYU. He taught in the Church Education System for 33 years, teaching Seminary at Olympus, Pleasant Grove, and American Fork High Schools, Evergreen Junior High School, and the Utah State Development Center. Therald was the Director of the Institute of Religion at CEU in Price, Utah for eight years. His last CES assignment was Principal of the American Fork Junior High School Seminary.

Following his wife Joan’s death in 1997, Therald married Verla Sneddon on June 27, 1998. Together, they served a CES mission teaching Institute of Religion classes at the University of Kentucky. Therald and Verla enjoyed traveling together. They were very proud members of the BYU Cougar Club, and enjoyed their association in The National Society of the Sons of the Utah Pioneers. Therald was honored to be a member the Kiwanis Club for 22 years, twice serving as President. He also loved his associations with the remarkable friends he exercised with daily at the Orem Recreation Center.

Therald loved his Heavenly Father and Savior. He faithfully served in many church callings, including the Bishopric, Stake High Counsel, and Branch Presidency.

Nothing held more importance to Therald than his testimony and his family. In his final weeks, his singular expressions were of love and gratitude for his family, friends, and Heavenly Father. Our family is sincerely grateful for the caregivers at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center and the Stonehenge of Orem Skilled Nursing Facility. You were all so genuinely skilled and benevolent.

Therald is survived by his wife, Verla, sons, Kennan T. Beckstrand, Mark Todd (Shelley) Beckstrand, Neal Jay (Kristi) Beckstrand, and daughter, Pam Beckstrand; eight grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren; Verla’s children: Paula (Jerry) Allred, Lori (Dennis) Stinger, Scott (Patty) Sneddon, Chad (Tamara) Sneddon, Russell (Daresa) Sneddon, 17 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

Therald was preceded in death by his parents, four sisters, his wife, Joan, and their son, James Clifton (Jay).

Funeral services will be Saturday, June 15, 2019 at 11:00 AM at the Hillcrest 4th Ward building, 440 E. 800 S., Orem. Viewings will be June 14 from 6:00-8:00 PM at the Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary, 495 S. State Street, Orem, and at the church from 9:30-10:30 AM, prior to funeral services.  Internment at the Meadow City Cemetery, 3:00 PM, Meadow, Utah.

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