2014-08-13T05:45:00Z Beryl Walther Elko Daily Free Press

Beryl Hope Brand Walther passed away peacefully in Anchorage, Alaska on August 1, 2014. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, August 11, 2014 at the Lake Hood Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 3340 West 40th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska 99517. A viewing will take place prior to the funeral from 10:00-10:30 a.m.

Beryl was born April 8, 1922 in Chicago, Illinois to Mr. and Mrs. Lorenzo D. Brand — the fifth of their seven children. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago, majoring in political science. She relocated to Washington, D.C. in January of 1943 to work at the Pentagon as an analyst for the War Department (Department of Defense). Later, she transferred to New Orleans, Louisiana and Boston, Massachusetts.

Beryl Brand and Harold Walther married June 23, 1943 in the LDS Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah. Their honeymoon included a visit to her husband’s ranch at Fort Halleck, Nevada, with a reception following in Chicago. After World War IJ, they lived in San Juan, Puerto Rio for several months. Upon returning to the United States, they lived in Nevada seven years.

In 1953, Harold and Beryl Walther and their three children, Grant, Dale, and Barbara, drove up the relatively newly built Alaska Highway — a slow and muddy, three-week trip. Three months later their fourth child, Deplores, was born. In the following years, Byron, Lorraine, Marlene, and Newels were also born in Alaska.

Always a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Beryl served in many positions. In addition to teaching classes in Relief Society, Primary, Sunday School, and genealogy, she also served as Chicago Stake Gleaner Girl President, the Young Women’s President in Elko, Nevada, and for seven years as the Alaska District Relief Society President.

In the community she served on the Anchorage Curriculum Steering Committee, the Anchorage Community Concert Board of Directors, and was an active 4-H adult leader for 15 years. She was an avid reader and also loved to travel. She traversed the globe many times, visiting Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and South America.

In 1997, Beryl was selected as the Alaska Mother of the Year and represented Alaska at the National Convention of American Mothers. She was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the National Society of Colonial Dames of America XVII Century.

All her siblings preceded her in death. Beryl’s husband, Harold Valentine Walther, died in Anchorage, Alaska, September 3, 1994 after 51 wonderful years of marriage.

She is survived by her eight children and their spouses: Grant, Dale (Kay), Barbara (Gary) Adams, Deplores (Michael) Gillson, Byron (Lori), Lorraine (Kent) Christenson, Marlene (Rob) Lewis, and Newels (Jennifer), 47 grandchildren and 47 great-grandchildren.

The burial will be at Fort Richardson National Cemetery.