Jean (Bingham) Korth

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Jean Bingham Korth, 83, on March 12, 2024, in Franktown, Colorado, with her beloved husband and family at her side. 

Jean was born on November 6, 1940, in Rexburg Idaho as the second of six siblings and raised on a farm in the small community of Newdale, Idaho. Jean learned to work at an early age by helping on their dairy and potato farm. She learned the art of homemaking and gardening from her mother and blessed so many with the talents she developed in these areas. She graduated from Sugar Salem High School in 1958 and went on to LDS Business College in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she earned a business certificate. 

After graduation, while working at a lumber yard, she caught the eye of a young man that did occasional work at the lumber yard. After a whirlwind romance, she and the man she always referred to as “my best friend”, Gary E Korth, were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She and Gary enjoyed more than 62 years together and welcomed five children, Kris, Kevin, Kaylene, Ken and Richard. 

Jean and Gary lived in Salt Lake City, Utah and San Diego California, but the place they lived longest, and called home, was a small community outside of Blackfoot, Idaho, called Riverside. There they raised their children and served in their community and church. Jean was passionate about bringing cultural and arts opportunities to her community and was a founding member of the Snake River Fine Arts Association. When there wasn’t a local soccer club for her son to join, Jean went to work and started a soccer club for the Snake River community and became one of the first coaches. When she saw a problem, she always found a way to become part of the solution. Jean was well known for her beautiful landscaping and flowers. She obtained a certificate as a Master Gardener and was always happy to share her knowledge and expertise with family and friends.  Of all of her talents and hobbies, her beautiful handmade quilts will be one of the things her family treasures most. 

As a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jean served in many callings and positions. She felt blessed by her pioneer heritage that included many early members of the restored gospel. After Gary’s retirement, she and Gary served as humanitarian missionaries in Jakarta, Indonesia and then a second mission as the office couple for the Tokyo, Japan South mission. They made many dear friends on their missions and loved working and serving with the young missionaries. They faithfully served as temple workers in the Idaho Falls Temple and, again, made many wonderful friends and felt blessed by their time serving. Jean loved the temple and felt such peace to be able to be in the temple only 4 days before her passing. 

Jean loved history and to travel and explore new places. But her greatest joy was being a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She loved to gather her family around her and feed them all the foods they loved best. She and Gary loved to travel to support their children and then grandchildren in all their activities and accomplishments. She was happiest when she was serving her family and friends. 

She is survived by her sweetheart, Gary E. Korth and her 5 children, Kris (James) Gardiner, Kevin (Judy) Korth, Kaylene (Dan) Kim, Ken (Caroline) Korth and Richard (Kristen) Korth; 15 grandchildren, Brittney, JD, Bradley, Emily, Alex, Jeanna, Annie, Garrett, Ellie, Max, Chelsea, Kate, Will, Drew and Claire; and 8 great-grandchildren. Jean is also survived by her siblings, DeAnn (Wright) Noel, Ethel (Mark) Johnson, Raymond (Nancy) Bingham, Reta (Tom) Luke, and Warren (Joanne) Bingham.  

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, March 20th at the Parker, Colorado Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 7160 Bayou Gulch Road, Parker, Colorado 80134. Streaming services will be available.

A public viewing will be held at the church prior to the funeral from 10:00 to 10:45 am.

A brief graveside service for Jean will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 22, 2024, in the Riverview Cemetery, 175 E. 1200 S, Tremonton, Utah 84337 followed by a memorial luncheon at the church 166 N Tremont Street, Tremonton Utah. All family and friends are welcome to attend. 

If you would like to donate to Humanitarian Services, a charity dear to Jean’s heart, you can do so by  following this link:  Humanitarian Services (churchofjesuschrist.org)