Brent Bethers

Brent Bethers passed away unexpectedly at the age of 49 on Thursday, January 19, 2023.

Brent was born on September 10, 1973, to Pratt Gordon and Myrla Vee Bethers in Wilmington, Delaware. In 1979, Brent moved with his family to Pocatello, Idaho, where he became very close to his maternal grandparents and cousins.

Brent was a gifted athlete and developed expertise at a young age in many sports, including soccer, baseball, skiing, and golf. The foundation of his intense love for the outdoors began with the Scouting program, where he earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

Brent was always a people person and had no trouble making friends, including countless “best-friendships”. Before he finished junior high school, he had become such a social butterfly that his mother had to install a second phone line at the house so Brent’s phone conversations wouldn’t prevent everyone else from using the phone.

Brent’s remarkable homebuilding and auto mechanic skills were ignited while working in his early teenage years for his stepfather, Mel, as they maintained the family’s rental units and cars. Brent demonstrated such trustworthiness and maturity that Mel had him regularly drive a work truck around town…before Brent was old enough to have a driver’s license.

Upon graduating from Pocatello High School in 1991, Brent enrolled in summer school at Brigham Young University with a scholarship. After a year studying at the university, he put his gregarious personality to work selling pest control services door-to-door in the San Francisco Bay area. He then enrolled at the University of Utah where his blood turned from blue to red.
Brent met Brenda Shumway in January 1993 and began his courtship by sending her a huge bouquet of beautiful flowers. They continued their courtship over the next couple years and were eventually married in Pocatello, Idaho, in June of 1995 and were later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple.

Along the way, Brent’s construction skills and desire to use his mind and hands to solve problems and create something tangible led him to move to Rock Springs, Wyoming, where he worked again for his stepfather to learn how to build new homes.  Brent and Brenda later moved to Pocatello, Idaho, where Brent provided a needed service to his mother by managing for a time several rental units.

His natural ability to quickly befriend people led him back to sales, this time in Boise, Idaho, where he held sales positions in the telecom and mortgage banking industries.

While in Boise, three sons were born into the family – Cameron in 2001, Chase in 2003 and Ethan in 2005. Brent was delighted to share his love for sports with his own children. He continued to play soccer in adult leagues and helped coach his sons’ soccer teams throughout their youth. Brent also grew his skills and love for golf to the point of competing in local tournaments. He remained an advanced skier throughout his adult life and especially enjoyed spending time skiing with his brothers, sons, nieces, nephews and friends.

As an adult, Brent developed a love for fishing, yellow Labrador Retrievers and fast cars. He enjoyed fishing in Driggs, Idaho and Alaska. His dog, Kenai, is named after his favorite fishing spot in Alaska. Brent’s fast car of choice was always an Audi, having owned several of them through the years, modifying each of them to improve driving performance and test the limits of engineering and physics. This passion has resulted in all three of Brent’s brothers owning modified Audis.

In 2010, Brent and Brenda moved their family to Bountiful, Utah where Brent ultimately combined his love of meeting new people through sales with his love of using his mind and hands to build things by starting his own construction company. He earned his general contractors license and for the last several years enjoyed doing home renovations and new construction.

Brent was dedicated to teaching his sons and nephews the life skills that brought him joy. Brent encouraged and supported Cameron and Chase in serving full-time missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Cameron completed a full-time mission to Guatemala and Baltimore, Maryland. And Chase is currently serving in Ventura, California.

Above all, Brent was known for his genuine kindness, positive outlook, ability to talk to people from all walks of life, and ultimately a person that people could trust and wanted to spend time with. He actively used his skills, both with his hobbies and his profession, in the service of others. He was constantly volunteering time to help neighbors, friends, and family with auto- and home-repair issues.

Brent died of an unexpected heart attack shortly after a glorious morning of skiing with family at one of his favorite resorts—Grand Targhee. He is already sorely missed by all his many family members and friends.

He is survived by his wife Brenda and his sons Cameron (Talee), Chase, and Ethan; his brothers Pratt (Cindy), Mark (Jenae), and Brooks (Amy); and by several beloved cousins, nieces, nephews and in-laws. He is preceded in death by his parents, Pratt Gordon and Myrla Vee Bethers, and his grandparents, Pratt and Jeanne Bethers, and Knowlin and Bertha Hansen.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 4, 2023, in the LDS Chapel at 585 East Center Street, Bountiful, Utah. Friends can meet with family members at a viewing on Friday evening from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Russon Mortuary, 295 North Main, Bountiful, Utah and on Saturday morning from 9:45 – 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment will be at Bountiful City Cemetery.

Services will be streamed live on Russon Mortuary & Crematory Facebook page and this obituary page.

In lieu of flowers, you may consider contributing to the following GoFundMe account intended to cover funeral expenses: https://www.gofundme.com/brent-bethers. Any excess funds will be used to help with college education and missions expenses for Brent and Brenda’s three sons.

***In order to view Brent's funeral service click on this link: https://www.facebook.com/100057447129518/videos/493777906285783