Marion Stevens

Obituary for
Marion Bennion Stevens

Marion Bennion Stevens was born September 23, 1925 to Sterling Alfred and Beryl Hamilton Bennion in Murray, Utah. She died on October 3, 2018 at the Timpanogos Regional Hospital in Orem, Utah from complications incident to age and a brain tumor. Marion grew up to adulthood in Delta, Utah with her older brother Sterling and younger sisters Erma and Lucille. Their family home was on a dairy farm just east of town. She had a special passion for playing the piano, cooking & sewing, and educational excellence.

After attending public schools in Delta she graduated from the Branch Agricultural College (BAC) in Cedar City with an associate degree, Utah State Agricultural College (USAC) with a BS degree, Teachers College at Columbia with an MA degree, and University of Wisconsin with a PhD degree. Her chosen field of study and professional work was Food Science and Nutrition. In each level of post graduate education she received special recognition for her excellence as a student. At the BAC she was valedictorian of her class and honored with the opportunity to be the guest pianist with the college symphany orchestra at her graduation exercise. At USAC she was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi, Omicron NU (professional society), an honorary musical society, and was given a dietetics internship at the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City where she became a licensed dietician. In her professional life Marion served as therapeutic dietician at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, instructor of foods and nutrition at Idaho State College, and instructor to full professor of food science and nutrition at Brigham Young University (BYU).

During her 27 years at BYU her major responsibilities were teaching and research, administration, university service, and service in professional societies. She served for 12 years as chair-person of the Food Science and Nutrition Department. She also served on many university wide committees, such as the graduate school council and the curriculum council.

As a teacher at BYU, Marion not only became a role model, but a lifetime friend to many students who have distinguished themselves in the field of food science and nutrition. For her teaching excellence she was given the Karl G. Maeser Distinguished Teaching Award. For her research she has received special awards from both her college and the university. Marion has published technical publications for her profession and also major texts for students in both foods and nutrition.

For many years Marion has been “Favorite Aunt” for many nieces and nephews. In 1977, at age 52, Marion married Wayne Stevens and became the step-mother to his 3 children from a previous marriage, Christine Meister, Robin Stevens, and Brian Stevens. Marion and Wayne have had a wonderful marriage companionship in ranching, developing and manufacturing products for the treatment of cancer, and in Church service.
Marion was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Wayne, and her sister Lucille.

Funeral service for Marion will be on Tuesday, October 9 at 11:00 AM at the Nelson Family Mortuary, corner of 4800 N University Ave, Provo, Utah. A viewing will precede 30 minutes prior to the funeral service.