Connie Hale Vanderbeek

Our loving wife, mother, oma, daughter, sister and friend  passed away on January 30, 2024  after a long battle with dementia. She was born on October 15th, 1942 in Salt Lake City to Leland Stanford Hale and Lois Joy Thompson.  Connie graduated from Olympus High School and attended BYU.  Connie worked as a secretary for many law offices throughout the Salt Lake valley and typed from home.

Connie found her lifelong companion in Harry John Vanderbeek, whom she waited 30 years for.  They  married on June 22nd, 1973 in the Salt Lake Temple. Connie became an instant mother to Harry's three children: John Vanderbeek (deceased), Jason Vanderbeek, and Amy Heidenreich (Troy), and later a loving Oma to 6 grandchildren and 2 great- grandchildren.

Throughout her life, Connie was deeply committed to her faith and served in numerous callings within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Connie enjoyed serving our Heavenly Father with her love of service through missionary work.  Her first mission was the Northern states Mission. Later missions were served alongside her loving husband Harry to the  Amsterdam Netherlands Mission, Tai - Laotian Salt Lake City Mission, and the West Indies (Suriname) Mission. 

Connie was known for her gift of gab. She loved talking with anyone and everyone. Through this lovely  gift she made many friends who are dear to her to this day. A high school group which still  gathers together, neighborhood friends from many different neighborhoods, church friends, golf friends, Arizona friends, quilting friends, missionary  friends and her cousins, nieces and nephews whom she always had a story for.

One of Connie's many talents was her skillful handiwork in cross-stitch and hardanger, which she won 1st place in the Utah state fair for twice.  She enjoyed making quilts and then quilting them. She created magnificent  pieces of art that will be cherished by her loved ones for generations to come. Her thoughtful gesture of gifting handmade washcloths was a special treat. Her hands were always busy creating exquisite work.

Connie was preceded in death by all of her siblings: Paul Hale, Karen Stevenson (Ford), and Dave Hale. She missed her family dearly and we are sure it was a joyous reunion on the other side of the vail.

We are forever grateful to our father for the amazing care he took of our mother the past few years. The love they had for one another was truly beautiful to watch. His voice calmed her and made her smile. Wherever Harry was Connie was right beside him. 

A viewing will be held at the LDS Tithing Hill Church (1208 W 12400 S. Riverton) on Thursday, February 8th from 6-8 PM, where family and friends will gather to honor her memory and share stories of her remarkable life.  Family graveside services will be held Friday, February 9th at 12:00 PM at Mountain View Memorial Cemetery (3115 E Bengal Blvd, Cottonwood Heights).