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1930 Iris 2011

Iris Bench

September 21, 1930 — October 23, 2011

Orem, Utah

Our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and friend, Iris Dawn Bigler Bench passed away peacefully on October 23, 2011 surrounded by her family at her home in Orem, Utah, from complications incident of Alzheimer's disease.

She was born September 21, 1930 on a beautiful Sunday morning in St. Anthony, Idaho the daughter of Mark Davis Bigler and Nila Hunter Bigler. She was the second of three children. She attended school in Idaho Falls, Idaho. She attended Brigham Young University where she was a Cougarette and worked as a secretary for President Ernest L. Wilkinson. While at BYU she met John R. Bench and they were married on April 9, 1954 in the Salt Lake City Temple. After Dad finished Dental School in Chicago, they made their home in Orem, Utah for the past 53 years.

Mom was the inexhaustible hostess and loved serving, visiting and cooking for her family, friends and neighbors, especially her husband of 57 years.

Mom served with all her heart in many church callings throughout her life, including serving a mission, with her sweetheart, at the Liberty Jail in Missouri. She was the President of the Utah Dental Auxiliary and enjoyed the many friendships she made there as well as in her sewing club, Paideia Sorosis Club, Yeshara, Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and an ongoing dinner group over the last 50 years.

Mother embodied courage, grace and beauty in all things. She had a beautiful testimony of our Heavenly Father and Savior. The mother of 5 children, Iris loved her family and taught them the gospel through her example and faithful service throughout her life.

Iris is survived by her husband John and children; John (Elvera) Bench of Abingdon, VA, Gretta (Phil) Millett of Salt Lake City, UT, Ellen (Gary) Blair of Cedar Hills, UT, Andrew (Kerrie) Bench of South Jordan, UT, Jennifer (Garrett) Seely of Alpine, UT. She is also survived by 2 siblings, Mark Bigler of Ogden and Margaret Whatcott of Orem, and brother and sister-in-law Sterling and Donna Bench of Provo, 19 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents and two infant children, Richard and Marsha, and an infant granddaughter Madeleine Seely.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 am Friday, October 28, 2011, at the Sharon Stake Center located at 545 South 800 East in Orem. The family will meet with friends on Thursday evening from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary, 495 South State, Orem and Friday at 10:00 am, at the church, prior to the funeral. Interment will be in the Orem City Cemetery.

Our family would like to express our appreciation to the employees of First Choice Hospice for the wonderful care and kindness shown to our Mother.

To send flowers to the family in memory of Iris Bench, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

24 Hour Viewing

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Starts at 6:00 pm (Mountain time)

Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary

495 S State St, Orem, UT 84058

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Daytime Viewing

Friday, October 28, 2011

10:00 - 10:45 am (Mountain time)

LDS chapel 545 S 800 E

545 S 800 E, Orem, UT 84097

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Funeral Service

Friday, October 28, 2011

Starts at 11:00 am (Mountain time)

LDS chapel 545 S 800 E

545 S 800 E, Orem, UT 84097

Get Directions

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

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