Name: Visitation for Francine Bennion
Start: 2024-01-27T16:30:00.000Z
End: 2024-01-27T17:30:00.000Z
Location: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel

Francine R. Bennion

1935 ~ 2024

Provo, Utah - Francine R. Bennion, 88, passed away on January 14, 2024. She is the daughter of Francis and Hilda Russell, and was raised in Alberta, Canada. She earned music degrees from the Royal Schools of Music and the Western Board of Music in Canada while completing high school; she was a gifted pianist. She attended Brigham Young University, where she earned a BA degree in French, with "near majors" in English, Music, and Psychology. While attending BYU she met her husband, Robert Bennion. She earned an MA degree in English from Ohio State University.

Francine taught English, piano performance, Honors Book of Mormon, and Honors History of Civilization (in succession), part-time, at BYU. She was active in several public and church service organizations and activities, including her work as a founding member of the Rock Canyon Preservation Alliance, a member of both the LDS Young Women and Relief Society General Boards, and a member of the Utah Task Force on Gender and Justice. She published several articles and essays. She loved hiking, particularly in Rock Canyon near her home, and she remained "incurably curious" throughout her life.

Francine is survived by brothers, Robert and Kendall Russell; children, Lynne, James (Gay Lynn), and Brett (Daniela); grandchildren, Ryan (Annie), Adam (Justine), Benni, Blake (Rebecca), Annika, Bronté, and Tarquin; and great-granddaughters Ashlyn, Stella, and Whitney. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob, and sisters Rosemary and Pamela.

A memorial service will be held at 11 am on Saturday, January 27 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel at 1960 N 1500 E, Provo. Family members will be at the church from 9:30 – 10:30 am for visiting. The memorial will be broadcast over Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/94400461049?pwd=cFZnL2x0K3RtTTRkOVNNajRoMk5MZz09 .

The family welcomes donations to American Diabetes Association in lieu of flowers.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Deseret News from Jan. 18 to Jan. 26, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for Francine Bennion

5 Entries

Rosalyn Eves

January 27, 2024

Francine Bennion was one of my favorite undergraduate professors. I was in the Honors world civilization she and Bob Bennion taught the last year before they retired (I believe) in Fall 1995. They both opened my eyes to ways to be LDS and to be a scholar. Dr. Bennion even said I reminded him a little of a young Francine, I think mostly because I'm also a redhead. Since that class, I kept in touch with them both over the years, writing letters and emails. They came to my wedding reception in 2003, which meant a lot to me. Francine would write to congratulate when I had a big life event--like my PhD in 2008 or when I first published a book in 2015. When I was home during the summers, I would sometimes go to visit in their beautiful home up in Oak Hills. She was a fantastic woman: smart, thoughtful, compassionate, and a wonderful mentor. I'm so sorry to hear of her passing (and wish I had been better at keeping up when I heard she was sick). --Rosalyn Collings Eves

Jessica Tidwell

January 23, 2024

Francine's speech, A Latter-Day Saint Theology on Suffering, is profound. I'm grateful to her for giving it. My condolences to her family.

Todd Morrill

January 22, 2024

Sister Bennion was the faculty leader of my small group during the second semester of the Learning How to Learn honors colloquium at BYU-Provo, 1983-84. She was an interesting, cultured, and engaging teacher, and I enjoyed the small group discussions that she led. For some reason, however, I was late with my final project. After my sob story about being a busy honors student, I expected her to excuse the tardiness, but she did not. Instead, she kindly told me that deadlines were important and that things needed to be turned in on time. I was embarrassed at the time, but I'm grateful Sister Bennion held her ground and docked my grade. It taught me a valuable lesson and I've thought back on the experience many times.

My sincere condolences to the Bennion family.

Barbara Miller

January 21, 2024

I knew her when I was a new convert in Ohio. I always admired her for many reasons.

Emily de Schweinitz Taylor

January 20, 2024

Francine influenced my entire intellectual and spiritual trajectory. With her husband, she taught the Honors History of Civilization Colloquium course at BYU, which allowed me real academic freedom for the first time in my life. I thank her and her husband for so much good that has come into my life. She will be missed.

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