Berna Jeannine Goodwin Telford

Berna Jeannine Goodwin Telford passed the morning of December 1, 2025, in her home at the age of 96. She was attended by loving family members who deeply loved her and who will miss her!

Berna was born in Blackfoot, Idaho on January 29, 1929. She was the only daughter and youngest child of Alvin LeRoy Goodwin and Hazel Lupriel Hemenway Goodwin. She adored her older brothers, Benny, Dale, and Chuck. Berna was gifted with a beautiful soprano voice from birth and started performing publicly at age five when she and her brother, Dale, were featured on the radio. She moved to Ogden, Utah with her family as a teenager. She studied music under well-known artists of the time and performed in operettas while at Ogden High School and Weber State College.

Berna served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Uruguay in 1950-51. She loved her mission and spoke fondly of it. While there she performed with other talented musicians and dancers spreading the gospel through song and dance in Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, Peru, and Mexico. She has performed in major concert halls in North and South America where she has been a featured coloratura soloist in musicals, oratorios, and choirs. In her later years she sang with the Southern Utah Heritage Choir, which she enjoyed immensely. Her latest accomplishment was singing a solo in church at age ninety-five, which she sang purely.

She married William "Dale" Telford in the Los Angeles temple in 1963 who preceded her in death. They loved the Lord and were both faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Along with church service, they enjoyed working in the yard together. They tended to 80-something rose bushes of all types and colors at their home in St. George! Their blended family includes Bill Telford (Beverely), Bob Telford (Deby), Sandra Telford Eisenberg (Jeff), Kurt Fitzell (Cherie), Pamela Telford, Karen Telford Priebs (Vernon), and Danny Telford (Audra). They have 32 grandchildren, and 52 great-grandchildren.

Along with music, Berna had many talents and interests. She had a sharp mind to the end and remarkably still enjoyed reading historical novels and mysteries. Just three weeks ago she was eagerly awaiting the last book in the current romance series she was reading! Her daughter had purchased it from Seagull Book just before she began to decline. Maybe she left a little prematurely…

We would like to express our thanks to Intermountain Home Health Hospice during the last week of her life. We especially express our appreciation to her daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Vernon Priebs, who cared for both Berna and Dale during the last years of their live - for the last thirteen years! Karen and Vernon served mom and dad tirelessly, lovingly, and well in every way possible way, taking care of home, yard, bills, and more, which we will be forever grateful!

A viewing will be held at Metcalf Bonzo Mortuary on Friday, December 5, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A "Celebration of Life" beginning with a life sketch by son, Kurt Fitzell, will be at 5:30 pm. Kurt's remarks will be followed by a special musical number, a pre-recorded song by Berna, "Going Home" and then will be opened to anyone who would like to share a memory.

On Saturday, December 6, 2025, there will be a dedication of the grave at 10:00 a.m., located in the beautiful Tonaquint Cemetery, 7177 South Dixie Drive, St. George, Utah.

To send a flower arrangement in memory of Berna Jeannine Goodwin Telford, please click here to visit our sympathy store.