Arlene Bennion

Arlene Olpin Bennion passed away on August 12, 2013 surrounded by her family. She was born January 28, 1924 in Nephi Utah, to Walter John Olpin and Joey Broadhead Olpin. She was raised in Nephi, attending school there. She had a good life and enjoyed Nephi as a young woman. When she was 17, the family moved to California to find work. WWII had begun, and there was work in construction for her father. For her senior year, she attended and graduated from San Diego High School. She then worked at Solar Aircraft.

She met Melvin (Mick) James Bennion and they were married in September of 1942. They were married one month when he was drafted into WWII. He entered the Army Air Force and was stationed at several bases until he went overseas to Italy in 1944. Their first child, Dick, was born in April 1945 in San Diego, where Arlene had gone to stay with her parents while Mick was gone. Dick was 7 months old before his father saw him.

After the war Mick and Arlene moved to Independence MO where they were going to stay for 1 year. They stayed for 53 years. They had five more children, Anita, Jim, Jerry John, and Bob. .

Arlene was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints. She served in many positions and was a visiting teacher for over 50 years. Mick served as Bishop and Stake President in Independence, and Arlene prepared and served many meals for general authorities that stayed in their home when on church assignments. Mick passed away in 1996, and in 1998 she moved to Utah where she has lived with her daughter, Anita.

Arlene's parents, her husband and brother, Harold, preceded her in death. She has two sisters, Marjorie and Beth. She has 22 grandchildren, and 29 great grandchildren (with two on the way)

Funeral Services under the direction of Wasatch Lawn will be held 11:00 am, Friday, August 16, 2013 at Western Hills 5th Ward, 5107 South 5600 West, Kearns Utah 84118. Friends and family may call from 6-8 pm Thursday evening at the Ward building and Friday morning from 10:00 to 10:45 prior to services at the church. Interment will be at Wasatch Lawn 3401 S Highland Drive.