Carol Beckstrand Allen

Carol Beckstrand Allen passed away peacefully at her home in Gilbert on July 10, 2021, just four days beyond her 88th birthday. Carol was born July 6, 1933 in St. Anthony, Idaho to Melvin H. and Virginia Hinckley Beckstrand. She spent her growing up years in Meadow, Provo and American Fork, Utah. She grew up with younger siblings: Helen, Harlo, Paul and Judy and a large extended family.

She met Merle M. Allen, Jr. at BYU and they were married August 16, 1954 in the Salt Lake Temple. Merle and Carol raised their 6 children in Scottsdale and Mesa, Arizona. Family life included: boating trips to Lake Powell, Lake Havasu, the lakes along the Salt River, also many annual beach trips to San Diego, CA and San Carlos, Mexico. Throughout her life she enjoyed serving in ward and stake callings and fully enjoyed living the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Her life was filled with service toward her family, her church and community. Carol was an exceptional quilter. She made over 100 quilts including one for each of her grandchildren at their high school graduation. Carol and Merle served 4 missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at BYU Hawaii, Provo Utah MTC, Hong Kong as the Asia Area-Humanitarian Leaders and Cove Fort Historical Site. They also represented BYU-Hawaii in Wuhan, China where they taught as exchange professors. Carol was a lifelong teacher. She was a volunteer tutor, taught English as a second language, and recently stated that no teaching opportunity gave her greater joy than her 7-year-old-primary class and helping the children prepare for baptism. She recently concluded her service as a primary teacher after five years.

Merle and Carol celebrated 67 years together. She was the love of his life. She will be greatly missed by her husband and six children: Leslie (Don) Patterson, Shauna (Fred) Mortensen, Denise (Curtis) Clifford, Colette (Kent) Hatfield, Mark (Audralyn) Allen and Brian (Jeannine) Allen, her 32 grandchildren and 50 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 17, 2021, at 10:00 am at the Gilbert Val Vista Stake Center, 1005 N. Voyager Dr., Gilbert, AZ. A visitation will be held Friday, July 16, 2021, 6-8 pm at Bunker’s Funeral Home, 3529 E. University Dr., Mesa, AZ and Saturday, July 17, 2021, 9-10 am at the Gilbert Val Vista Stake Center prior to the service. If remembrances other than flowers are desired, a donation to the Church Humanitarian Fund is suggested.