Bethine Sax Bernhisel was born in Mackey Idaho on July 7th 1927 and grew up Eureka Utah. She was the oldest of 5 children. Her father, Ernest Sax, a silver miner, died of pneumonia when mom was 10 years old, leaving Grandma Sax to care for Bethine, uncle Bud and aunts Jo Ann, Marion and Jeanine whom she was pregnant with at Grandpa's death, during the depression era of the 1930's.
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Bethine as an infant with her father Earnest Sax
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Three month old Bethine
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At 18 months
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Band Uniform-played the B flat alto Saxophone
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Pictures of Mom as a teenager
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Mom met and married a pre-med student, Harris "Harry" Bernhisel at the University of Utah in the midst of World War II. She had graduated from LDS School of Nursing and was attending the University of Utah. After completing medical school at the "U", Dad did and internship in Albany NewYork in 1949-1950 and then came to the University of Minnesota to do a residency in neurology. They settled in a suburb of Minneapolis where they bought their "little Blue House" which they worked on and expanded all the time we were in Minnesota.
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| Mom who became a mom Nov.26th 1950. (University of Minnesota) |
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| Mom, Dad and Marc at the North Shore |
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| Mom and Marc on the front steps of the 'Little Blue House' |
The day that I was set apart to be a Mission President, June 22 of 2012 by Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the 12, mom told me that the then, Dr. Nelson (also a resident at the U of M), visited her and me, the day I was born. Elder Nelson, just before he set me apart, related to me the story of that same visit.
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| Mom, Marc and Rhet on Stevens Ave. Richfield |
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| The Little Blue House-early days |
My brother, Rhet Warren, was born in 1953. My parents loved the lakes in Minnesota and loved the outdoors. We skied, skated and camped. Mom and Dad were amongst a core of great people that had part in the foundation and growth of the Church in Minnesota and Wisconsin. They always were on the go with church assignments, which took them to remote branches. Our home was a gathering place for the YSA and missionaries. We always had people over to our house for dinner. My parents were great missionaries. Often as we went to church, we were frequently accompanied by a person that they were teaching the Gospel to.
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| Dad, Mom, Marc & Rhet |
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| Jo Ann, Grandma Sax, Mom, Bud, Dad, Marc (with chicken pox), Rhet (in front) |
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| Skiing in Ontonagon Michigan (N.peninsula) |
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| Skiing with mom. Alta Utah |
My little brother Rhet, age 5, died in a drowning accident. It was devastating to all of us. A day before his death, he gave my mom a bunch of daisies that he had picked from our garden-knowing how much Mom loved flowers. He planted the stems in dirt he had carefully put into a plastic holder and told her "these flowers will never die."
My mother had struggled with infertility after Rhet was born, which continued after his death. I had apparently suggested that they "buy a baby at the Baby Store." Later, in a way, they did just that. They adopted my sister Ann and brother Paul in Minnesota and then after moving to Bountiful Utah, they adopted my brother Todd.
My father did another residency in radiology at the U of M and afterward they made a difficult decision to leave Minnesota, which they loved, to return to Utah. From that point in 1964, Mom and Dad have lived in their Bountiful home.
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| Mom with Paul and aunt Betty with Todd |
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| Dad, Mom, Mongkol Tungmala and Marc. A trip to Hawaii and then to Thailand |
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| Mom and Virginia Kirkham at Marc and Julee's wedding reception |
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| Gretchen and Mom |
Before leaving for my mission to Thailand in 1970, my mom had the distinct feelings of 'morning sickness. Sure enough, after 17 years of infertility, she was pregnant again with my sister Gretchen, born in April of 1970.
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| Marc, Julee, Gretchen, Ann, Mom, Dad, Todd and Paul-Bountiful Home |
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| Mom and granddaughter Brooke |
Mom became a Grandma in 1976 with the birth of Heidi. Mom took Gretchen, then just turned 6 years old, to an outside window at the old South Davis Hospital, looking into the nursery. When Gretchen saw the adorable baby, who mom had pointed to, Gretchen turned to mom and yelled "grandma, grandma, your a grandma."
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| Gretchen,Todd and Mom in New York |
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| Now a 'grandma great' (first great grandchild 1998 Mckenzie) Tyler, Mckenzie, Heidi and Mom |
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| Sax Sisters: Jeanine, Marion,Jo Ann and Mom |
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| Mom, Dad and Jenny Leigh at her HS graduation |
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| Dad, Mongkol's mother and Mom |
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| 4th of July in Lewiston. Dad, Jan, Ted, Jay and Mom 2011 |
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| Great-grand kids at the Bountiful home 2011 |
Mom and Dad loved their kids, grandkids and great-grand children and until recently, they traveled all over to be with them at many events. Everyone enjoyed coming to the Bountiful home and getting mom's home cooked meals and to swim in her pool.
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| Grave ceremony and dedication: Ann, Gretchen, Dad, Paul and Marc |
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| Lyndi, Julee, Dad, Marc and Preston |
Mom suffered a stroke in the spring of 2014. She retained her feisty manner right to the end. She was a wonderful sister; a caring nurse; a dedicated church member; a gifted painter, seamstress, and cook and a great wife and mother and wonderful grandma and great-grandma.
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| Ryan and Stacy joining |
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| "They will never die" |
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| We love you mom |
'They will never die: The Flower rises up and opens forth when Spring breezes fill the air. It toils in the heat and in the cold. It's glory is in the day.
'When the day is finished and Autumn winds chill the air, the Spring Flower's stock is bare.
'The Human Flower is born with Heavenly Care and flourishes on earth for just a moment. But the Eternal Soul, touched and transformed by the Creator's hand, will never sorrow and will never see a day with a winter's storm.'
Mom is now with her son Rhet and with her mother and dad and her brother Ernest "Bud". Most importantly she will be in the presence of her loving Heavenly Parents and her Savior.
When those righteous examples to us, such as Bethine Sax Bernhisel, who have accepted the gospel and have embraced it by their goodly works and by honoring the commandments and covenants of the Lord, depart from this life, they “are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.” (Alma 40:12)
