Nov. 3, 1921 - Mar. 24, 2017
Date of Service: Mar. 31, 2017
Mary M. Bingham
RUPERT – Mary M. Butler Bingham passed away on March 24, 2017, in Burley, Idaho.
She was born November 3, 1921, at home in Butlerville, Utah, to William Wootton Butler and Mary Evalyn McGhie Butler. She was the ninth of ten children in her family. She attended school in Butlerville, Sandy and Granite, Utah, and graduated from Granite High School in Salt Lake City. Mary loved singing and sang in a girls’ quartet while she was in high school. During this time, Philo T. Farnsworth invented the television and Mary and her quartet were invited to the Paris department store in Salt Lake to sing so the television could be tested. She was part of history that day. After high school, she attended LDS Business College and McCune School of Music.
In 1942, Mary met LaVerle M. Bingham, from Moreland, Idaho, on a double date. LaVerle had enlisted in the Army Air Corp and was stationed at Fort Douglas and then Kearns, Utah. They were married on September 3, 1943, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. They were married for about six weeks when LaVerle was sent to Europe because of WWII. While he was gone, their first child, Marvin L. Bingham, was born.
After LaVerle returned they moved to Moreland, Idaho, to farm. They lived there for about ten years. In 1954, veterans could apply for a land drawing in the Northside Project near Rupert, Idaho. LaVerle put his name in, his name was drawn and they acquired a homestead of 96 acres. Mary and LaVerle moved their family (which by now included four more children, Bruce Jay, Raymond W., Kerry Dee and Marylee) to Rupert. They had to clear the land from sagebrush, dig a well for water, plant their crops and build a house to live in. They were required to live on their homestead so they built a cinder-block barn first and lived in it for several months while their home was being built. It was a lot of work but they persevered, worked hard and made it work. Two more children, Boyd Allen and Kathleen were born after they moved to Rupert.
Life on the farm for Mary was very busy. She had seven children to care for and feed and it seems she spent most of her days planning meals, preparing them and cleaning up after, only to start all over again for the next one. She also raised a large garden, canned the produce, sewed clothing for the family and served in many callings in the Rupert 2nd and 5th wards. She continued her love for music and sang in many events in church groups. She also was an ardent cheerleader at her kids’ basketball games, softball games and music recitals. She enjoyed crocheting including baby blankets, hot pads, dishcloths, and her signature Poopy Ducks, which have made their way into homes around the country. Mary loved her grandchildren and was blessed to have most of them live close by for frequent visits. She always had a treat available and played a mean game of Rummy, Scrabble and Qwirkle.
In their later years, Mary and LaVerle served a mission for several years at the Family History Center in Burley, Idaho, which they very much enjoyed. Mary was also active for many years in the Daughters of Utah Pioneers.
Mary and LaVerle had seven children; 32 grandchildren; 69 great-grandchildren (with several more on the way); and four great-great-grandchildren. She is survived by sons, Raymond W. Bingham (Karen), Kerry Dee Bingham (Joy), Boyd Bingham (Sherry); daughters, Marylee Bingham and Kathleen Whitlock; and daughter-in-law, Toni Bingham.
She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings; her husband of 67 years, LaVerle M. Bingham; two sons, Marvin L. Bingham (Jennifer), and Bruce Jay Bingham (Toni); two daughters-in-law, Jennifer Bingham and Karen Bingham; a grandson, Jared William Bingham; and two great-grandchildren, Owen Bingham and Emma Bingham.
The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 31, at the Rupert LDS Stake Center, 324 E. 18th St., in Rupert. Burial will follow at the Rupert Cemetery.
Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Thursday, March 30, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, and from 1 until 1:45 p.m. Friday, preceding the service at the church.
