Betty Ruth Baker Payzant (97) passed away on September 24, 2020, at 6:30 am in her home, surrounded by family that loved her. After a beautiful life, well lived, she experienced the effects of declining health the past year.
Betty was born in Springville, Utah, on April 22, 1923. At the start of The Great Depression, Betty’s mother, Elva, wanted to have her daughter’s picture taken to have on display in their home. Due to limited funds, Betty’s mother made a little dress out of an old pink slip,
that made Betty feel like a princess in her photoshoot. At a young age, Betty learned that one could make something beautiful out of nothing.
Throughout her life, Betty portrayed the most remarkable example of what it means to serve and love others. Her family was her greatest joy and blessing. Betty married Russell Nebeker Payzant on September 10, 1943, in the Salt Lake Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah. Together, they had four children: Russell Lewis, Thomas Lee, Joanne Louise, and Kevin Leroy.
As the ultimate homemaker, she served her husband, children, and community up until she passed on. Her service blessed every auxiliary in her church organization. Betty faithfully loved and served the Primary children, Young Women, Relief Society sisters, and was a ministering angel to the women in her neighborhood. Betty and Russell served four missions for their church. They served as weekly temple workers in Los Angeles, California, gave church history tours in Nauvoo, Illinois, researched church history genealogy work, and transcribed church history journals in Salt Lake City, Utah. To conclude their church service, Betty and Russell served in the Provo Temple for 20+ years.
Betty loved all things “presentation,” which means that she loved making something beautiful. Betty canned peaches and pears and always made sure the fruit faced outward. She set the table for Christmas Eve with the most delicate china and tiny trinkets. Betty and Russell would tie quilts for their family, and the yarn ties were always perfectly square. When she decorated for holidays, she thought through every detail to make it beautiful and memorable for everyone.
All loved Betty’s famous chocolate cake, mincemeat cookies for Christmas Eve, Chocolate Chip cookies with walnuts, and homemade bread for breakfast. With all the goodies she made, she also would sneakily hide candy all over her house. The grandkids quickly caught on that grandma’s house was the “sweets house,” literally. When cleaning out all of Betty’s things, we found candy in almost every drawer, and even her last meal was requesting a sweet breakfast roll.
There were many great activities that Betty and her family loved doing, and one was playing games in their basement after a lovely home-cooked meal. Everything from Domino’s to Hearts to Tile Rummy, but the best was Scum. One of her grandchildren said, “We would play for hours and laugh and laugh. One time grandma wanted to play Scum but said, let’s play scrud. We all knew what she meant, but we all busted up laughing. Good times.”
On top of Betty’s love for family, friends, and community, Betty loved the Lord and served Him with all her heart and soul to the very end. She testified over and over again of how the Book of Mormon has blessed her life.
Betty is survived by her four children and their spouses, 19 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren, and 1 in the oven.
Betty will be buried next to her husband in the Spanish Fork City Cemetery, Utah, where her body will rest until the beautiful morning of that glorious resurrection. If you wish to send any condolences, please send them to the Hutchens’ home.
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