Lois was the middle child of nine born to David Birch and Nancy Eldredge Garn in Wilford, Fremont, Idaho on 4 February 1902. She grew up on the family farm and began milking cows when she was about 9; it became a daily duty for many years. She also herded cattle on horseback and any other farm chores her father doled out. She described her youth as responsible, but happy and carefree.
As a teen, she spent a portion of her time each winter sorting peas at a seed house to earn school money.
Lois lost a year of school when she caught the flu during the great flu epidemic of 1918, but she returned and graduated in 1921.
With borrowed money from her older sister, Fern, Lois took a nine-week course in Elementary Education. She then taught school for a year before meeting and marrying Seth Bean in the Salt Lake Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah on 8 November 1922.
They first lived in an old “tent house” on Seth’s parent’s farm in Teton, then spent a winter on the Birch farm, while Lois’ parents lived in town. Through their long marriage the Beans lived on a dry farm in Drummond (1924-1935), a rented farm in Twin Falls, Idaho (1935-1945), their own farm in Twin Falls in a home that they designed and built (1945-1960), and a cattle farm in Buhl (1960-1965).
In the fall of 1965, Seth and Lois retired from farming and moved into a mobile home in Twin Falls. They did some traveling, visited as many temples as possible, and served in the Church.
Seth died at 84 years in 1981; Lois lived to 96 years old and died 27 February 1998 in Bountiful, Utah. Lois and Seth are buried in the Sunset Memorial Park in Twin Falls, Idaho.
(From the book: “Remembering David and Nancy And Their Family” by Jesse Dean Birch & Twila Davis Bird, p.354.)
Transcription of newspaper article (?) that is difficult to read:
J Wayne Bean, 51, Idaho Falls route 1, accidentaliy drowned in a canal about one mile south of Aminon cemetery sometime Tuesday afternoon, the Bonneville county sheriff's office reported Tuesday night. Deputy Sheriff A E Heston said workmen who found the body reported that Mr Bean, who was employed by the Progressive Irrigation district, was last seen when he finished eating lunch with the crew working on the canal. They said he walked up the canal to resume clearing weeds and looking for holes. The body was found in the canal after Mr Bean failed to report back at the end of the day and the crew started a search. Discovery was made about 5:30 pm by Clinton Cox, Samuel Burk, Cliff Thornton and Cloyd Whitehead, who were working on another section of the canal. They said the body was in about 18 inches of water and completely submerged except for the left shoulder. Artificial respiration was given without response. The men said Mr Bean evidently suffered a heart attack or accidentally fell backwards into the canal. They estimated he had been dead about two or three hours when located. A shovel he was using was found about 15 feet from the body. He had a lump on his head, indicating he may have been stunned by the fall, said relatives. The officers said they had been advised he had suffered fainting spells. Survivors include his wodiw and two sons, Gaylord Bean, Idaho Falls, and Arlen Bean, who is fulfilling (?) a mission is Canada. Funeral arragnements will be announced later by Wood Funeral home.
Mr Bean was born Oct 25, 1900 in Provo, Utah, the youngest of 13 children born to James Willism and Olive Smoot Bean. He spent his early childhood in Provo and moved to Idaho with the family in 1915, settleing on a farm in Teton City. He has since made his home in Sugar City and Idaho Falls and for the past 17 years has lived on a farm in Iona. He was married to Ruby Dayton April 28, 1926, in Glendale, Calif. The marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS temple. He is survived by his widow and two sons, Arlen, who is serving as a missionary for the LDS church in the Eastern Canadian mission, and Gaylon, Iona. Brothers and sisters surviving are Mrs Diana Thatcher, Ogden; Mrs Virginia Rudd, Clearfield, Utah; Mrs Azna Greer, San Gabriel Calif; Mrs Margaret Davis, Rexburg; Ross S Bean, Berkeley, Calif; Mrs Orea Tanner, Provo; Mrs Ruth Siddoway, Teton' Seth Bean, Twin Falls; and George E Bean, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Gaylon Wayne Bean, 80, longtime resident of Idaho Falls, died Monday, Sept. 17, 2012, at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls. He left life as he lived it, with dignity.
He was born Aug. 22, 1932, in Sugar City, Idaho, to Ruby Dayton and Joseph Wayne Bean.
He spent his youth and was schooled in Iona. He earned a B.S. degree at Idaho State College in sociology and economics and was a graduate of the Army ROTC program.
Gaylon served in the U.S. Army at Fort Benning, Ga., and South Korea. He was involved in successful businesses Western Wholesale Supply, Design Gallery and Western Transport.
Gaylon was a loving father and grandfather, and the brightest sparkle in his eye was the love of his life--his wife, Lucy.
He is survived by a brother, Arlen K. Bean; two children from a prior marriage to Judith Green, Judith Anne (Ed) Wicher and Michael Wayne (Deborah) Bean; two stepchildren, Christy (Richard) Fejer and David (Jenny) Kempner; and nine grandchildren, Sarah Wicher and Emily Wicher West, Matthew, Jacob, Courtney and Jonathan Bean, Alex and Eric Fejer, and Logan Kempner.
Gaylon loved the out-of-doors and sports. After an accident left him without the use of his legs, he refocused his interests and priorities. Gaylon loved life and inspired and mentored many people and was always the best friend anybody could have. With a "can-do" attitude, he never found a challenge he wouldn't take. He often recited poetry in a deep and resonant "made-for-radio" voice.
Gaylon's favorite poem by RL Sharpe speaks of his attitude about life: A Bag of Tools Isn't it strange How princes and kings And clowns that caper In sawdust rings And common people Like you and me Are builders for eternity Each is given A list of rules A shapeless mass A bag of tools And each must fashion Ere life is flown A stumbling block Or a stepping stone.
A celebration of Gaylon's life will be held from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 24, at 2585 Fieldstream Lane in Idaho Falls.
Arrangements are under the direction of Buck-Miller-Hann Funeral Home in Idaho Falls.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be given to the Idaho Falls Public Library, The Haven or the Soup Kitchen of Idaho Falls.