Genese Cleveland Beck

Genese was born at home in St. Charles, Idaho, October 8, 1924, to Elsworth Pugmire and Hettie Thompson Cleveland.  At age 14, the family moved into company housing at UP&L's Camp Litton Bear Lake Station and there for the first time they had all the enmities of modern living; plumbing, electricity and a telephone.

She attended a two-room schoolhouse in the St. Charles and later graduated from Fielding High School in Paris.  Genese graduated from Utah State Agriculture College (USU) in 1947.  She was president of Theta Upsilon Sorority her senior year.  

Genese began her teaching career in Gooding, Idaho.  It was there she met and married John Beck.  Over the years she taught in Montana, Maryland and California.  She retired from North Davis Junior High in Clearfield, Utah where she taught English and Utah history.  She stayed in touch with former students and teachers.  

Mom was a member of an Athena Club of Kaysville for many years.  The club was instrumental in establishing an abused women's shelter in Kaysville after diligent work and fundraising.  Mom enjoyed representing American Association or University Women (AAEW) at Legislative Council at the State Capitol for many sessions. 

Mom maintained a vegetable garden, a variety of fruit trees and a Bear Lake raspberry patch for bottling and canning.  Neighborhood friends and family especially looked forward to gifts of bottled raspberry jam at Christmas time. 

Genese enjoyed times with friends and family.  She spend many days each summer at the family home in Bear Lake.  She traveled to Alaska, Hawaii, Japan, Korea and drove most of Highway 89 here in the state.  She liked going to the Pioneer Theater, Logan Opera Festive and the Utah Shakespearean Festival.  

After she retired, Mom started going to aerobic classes three days a week; first with the North Davis seniors then at Autumn Glow.  She had many friends there and was working out almost to the end.  She also was known for walking her neighborhood and all of Kaysville for exercise.  

Mom was modest about her own skills and accomplishments but not those of her two kids and grandson.  Then she crowed about "my kids".  She listed more than advised, supported all we did, laughed at and with us, and was a friend.  She was the best mom ever.  She was kind, strong and resourceful.  She didn't sit still and her hobby was working in the yard.  She said she was shy but she met people easily and made many friends.  

Genese passed on February 11, 2024 with Jeff and JoAnn at her side.  She always said she didn't want to live to be 100.  She is survived by her kids and grandson, Marc, three great-grandkids, a niece, and two nephews.  She has one remaining sorority sister and lifelong friend, Alice Telford.  At Mom's request, her ashes will be interred alongside her parents in St Charles, Idaho at a later time.