Hilma Orabell Beesley

Hilma Orabell Beesley was born to goodly parents, Charles and Hilma Johnson Brown on August 28, 1916. She passed away October 10, 2008 at her daughter’s home. As a kind and loving sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she will be missed.
Mom talked fondly of memories of growing up in Murray, Utah living a simple and happy life in her large family along with many friends. She was proud of the time her father served as mayor.
Orabell met Joe at Saltair and thought he was a pest and a lousy dancer, but decided to marry him anyway on September 20, 1939 in the Salt Lake Temple. Their life was happy and busy in East Millcreek raising six children, pets and two girls from the Indian Placement Program.
Orabell worked for a time at the ZCMI overalls factory and later she and Joe ran a little diner and ice cream parlor in downtown Salt Lake. She served for many years in the Primary and Relief Society organizations of the LDS church and was a faithful visiting teacher.
Orabell loved being a grandma and making some fun memories for the grandkids like riding in her ’57 T-bird with the top down, playing house, store and a trunk full of dress ups. With mom’s hearing problems she would talk on the phone with the receiver upside down to accommodate her hearing aide which would always bring giggles and laughter from the grandkids. Sleeping over was the best with Swedish pancakes for breakfast. When she would come to visit and was ready to leave she might find some grandkid with suitcase packed hiding in the car wanting to go home with her. She set the example when teaching the grandkids to work hard and do the job right, reminding them the pay was for their missions.
Orabell loved to cook and could often be found in her kitchen whipping up all kinds of new and favorite foods from pot roast, cookies and pies, to canning fruits, jams and pickle relish from her large garden. Her potato salad was a hit at the Beesley Christmas Open House for over 40 years.
Orabell’s Potato Salad
Cook, cool, and dice 5lbs. russet potatoes Mix the following:2 C Miracle Whip 1 C milk 3 tsp. mustard 2 tsp. salt 2 Tbl. Sugar 2 boiled eggs- chopped 1 small bottle of chopped pimento 2 tsp. celery seed Mix well with diced potatoes. Best made the day before. Enjoy!
Even though she was a homebody, occasionally Dad would pack her bags and be off and running to Canada, Mexico, Hawaii, New York, etc. She would go reluctantly, but was always glad she had gone. This time she packed her own bag for the best trip of all. We love you Grandma Bee.
Preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Watson Beesley and two grandsons David Beesley and Austin Jensen. Survived by her children, Joleen Gunderson, Greg Beesley, Jeannette Hoopes, John Beesley, Joe B. Beesley and Jan Beesley; 27 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
The family would like to thank all those who helped make Orabell’s final days comfortable, particularly Carolyn, Gaylene, Vicky and Heidi.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 16, 2008 at Valley View 4th Ward, 2125 East Evergreen Avenue, at 1:00 p.m. with a viewing from 10:30-12:30 prior to the service. Interment at Wastach Lawn. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Humanitarian Fund.