MERRILL WESLEY BECK – Of St. George, Utah, Born 26 Oct. 1922, in Pleasant Grove, Utah, to Wesley Julius Beck and Sarah Atwood, passed away at 88 years old on June 8th, 2011.
He attended school thru High School in Pleasant Grove and continued his education at Henager Business College. He worked for 20 years at Salt Lake Union Stockyards, and then purchased the Stockyards. Three years of his life were spent in Military Service in the South Pacific at Biak Island, New Guinea, and the Philippines. He married Mary Marcia Daley on Oct. 14, 1942 in the Salt Lake Temple. Married 68 years.
Merrill enjoyed many years in the construction business building homes, businesses and doing concrete work. As an active member of the LDS faith, Merrill was privileged to have many years working with Scouts and was honored by the National Association. For over five years he was Bishop of the Bountiful 44th Ward and loved this calling and the association of many lie-long friends made at that time.
Merrill and Marcia served a mission to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania in 1981- 1982. Merrill was adept at all sports and loved his companions at Basketball, Handball, Racquetball, Tennis, Softball, Baseball, Bowling, Fishing, Hunting, and card games. Merrill was regarded as one of Utah’s best softball pitchers for many years. With an excessive competitive spirit, he was good at all of the sports.
Merrill was preceded in death by his twin sister Maurine Jorgensen, his parents, his older brother Reed and younger sister Ardena and his only daughter Myrna Beck Dee. He is survived by his wife Marcia Daley Beck, his sons Dennis (Jolene) and Gary (Julene), a brother Douglas Beck; also fifteen grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren.
There will be a viewing Sunday, June 12th from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S. Bluff Street, St. George. On Monday, June 13th there will be a viewing from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 295 N. Main, Bountiful, UT. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 14th at 11:00 a.m. at Russon Brothers Mortuary, with a viewing prior to services from 9:45-10:45 a.m. Interment will take place in the Bountiful Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the LDS General Missionary Fund.
