Geniel Beck Rasmussen

Geniel Beck Rasmussen, 97, our dear mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, aunt, sister-in-law, teacher, mentor and friend, passed peacefully on to our heavenly Home and the arms of many loved ones and friends, on Thursday, August 22, 2024. Among those excitedly awaiting her return was her mother who died of Addison's disease when Geniel was just 18 months old.

She was born to Erastus Ray Beck and Lavinia Justesen Beck on December 12, 1926, at their home in Sandy, Utah, the third of three children. After her mother’s premature death, her dad, then a widower, was serving as bishop of the Sandy 2nd Ward when he died suddenly and unexpectedly due to a ruptured appendix, just weeks before he was to marry Freda Joan Jensen.

Geniel and her siblings Russell and Janice, now orphaned, were separated as the two older children went to stay with their Uncle Reid and Aunt Wilda in Draper, and Geniel went to live with Freda in Sandy. Mom’s iron will, tenacity and intelligence were thus honed during her experiences as a young woman raised in a home of adults, as Freda’s mother and step-father lived with them as well. She was loved and given many opportunities to develop her musical and other talents.

Despite, or perhaps because of, these challenging circumstances, Geniel always had a smiling, positive attitude, was cheerful, witty, fun, funny – keynoted by self-deprecating humor – and always maintained a firm testimony of and commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

While attending Jordan High School, she played the piano with Robert Cundick who later became an organist for the Tabernacle Choir on Temple Square. Their piano duet won the Jordan High talent show.

She graduated from the University of Utah, having studied music and education, where she was a member of the Spurs, a charitable service sorority, and accompanied the Mixed Chorus led by Richard P. Condie who later directed the Tabernacle Choir.

Geniel married her childhood sweetheart Donell S. Rasmussen on September 2, 1949, in the Salt Lake Temple and they remained best friends and buddies for nearly 65 years, until Don died in 2014.

She and Don moved to Mesa, Arizona where they welcomed sons Stan and Craig. Brian was born after they returned to Utah – living initially in Salt Lake, followed by 10 years in Midvale, and thereafter in Sandy. 

With Freda’s marriage to Elder Harold B. Lee in 1963, the family was blessed by that sweet association.

Geniel and Don raised their three sons in the gospel. She made life fun and often shared her view of life in little quips like, “Such is life in the Far West,” and “Take two chocolates and call me in the morning!”

A teacher all her life, she taught in the 3rd, 4th and 5th grades in Jordan School District for 34 years, including 11 years as district elementary music specialist, where at times she would teach 1,000 students in a week. She retired in 1991.

Geniel then served as a volunteer greeter and telephone operator at Cottonwood Hospital and the Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, for 29 years. She also served for 27 years as a volunteer lobby pianist at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. Her musical gifts blessed countless lives.

She served in many church callings including ward organist, chorister, choir director, music chair, Young Women advisor, gospel doctrine teacher and bishop’s wife. She and Don later served as original hosts at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and as leadership missionaries in the Liberty 9th Ward, Salt Lake Inner City Mission.

Geniel loved Utah football and would talk about that and the NFL with any and all. She also loved chocolate, mystery books and shows, going out to lunch and dinner with family and friends, and was proud of her beautiful rose garden. She was a whiz with her cellphone and enjoyed communicating with friends, family and especially grandkids through text and social media – hence, her nickname, “Instagrama.” Her top priority was her family, especially getting together.

With Geniel, you weren't just family or friends, you were BFFs. Period!

She was preceded in death by her parents, sweetheart and husband of 64 years, sister Janice (Bob) Morley, brother Russell (Maxine) Beck, many brothers- and sisters-in-law, nephews and grandson Jeff Rasmussen. She is survived by her children Stan (Chris), Craig (Susan) and Brian (Julie), 11 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, a great-great-granddaughter, sister-in-law Linda J. Rasmussen, and many nieces and nephews.

The family expresses deep gratitude to Geniel’s dear friends and to her fellow Telford Ward members for their kindness and companionship over the past many years. 

Sincere appreciation is also extended to longtime family friend, Debi Poulsen, RN, CHPN, with Bristol Hospice, and the wonderful staff at Sunrise Senior Living of Sandy, especially Tabitha, for their loving care.

Funeral Services will be held Friday, September 6, 2024, at 12:00 noon, in the Telford Ward chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 1834 East Creek Road (8000 South) in Sandy. Friends and family are invited to attend a viewing from 9:30 to 11:45 a.m. at the chapel, prior to the funeral. Interment will follow at the Sandy City Cemetery, 700 East 9000 South.

We love you, Mom!

The service will be live-streamed on the Anderson & Goff Mortuary Facebook Page at the following link: 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Funeral-Service---Cemetery/Anderson-Goff-Mortuary-293949407707203/

(The live-stream video will appear when the service starts.)