On the evening of Monday, February 2, 2026 Marion Beth Anderson Reed, age 93, passed this mortal life peacefully, graduating at the home of her eldest son in Boise, Idaho. Marion, daughter of Leon Facer Anderson and Anna Letha Madsen Anderson was born on July 2, 1932 in Salt Lake City, Utah, in her grandmother Anderson's home. When she was two years old the family moved to 1390 South 3rd East where she "grew up" until she was 12. Anna, known as Letha, and Leon were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Letha loved God and taught Marion the gospel. As she grew, she was gregarious and friendly, talking to any and everyone. She was strong willed, unafraid and adventurous. Some of her early life adventures included running away from her mother in downtown Salt Lake, because she, Marion, did not want to go shopping. Then getting a ride home from a total stranger. Another running away adventure, this time with her friend Patsy Wright. They made it about 3-½ blocks and stopped to play on the lawn in front of the Skaggs grocery store. 'Mind you these are original Salt Lake City blocks so that's a good distance for a pair of two-year-olds!.Shortly after that her parents fenced in the yard. Was this going to stop Marion from seeing what was on the other side of the fence? A resounding "no!" After learning to climb the fence, she climbed everything. She loved to climb trees and was always out playing games, running and seeking adventures. By her own account she broke her left arm twice and her right arm once in these pursuits. In addition to adventure Marion loved music and dance. She took dance lessons, both tap and ballet and took lessons to learn the Hawaiian guitar. While she became good at tap, she was not thrilled with the Hawaiian guitar. "Whoever heard of playing a guitar, sitting down with it on your lap?" She wanted to learn to play the piano, but her father would not allow a piano in the house because "the floors wouldn't support it" and a child on a piano was not going to be quiet while he read his newspaper. Marion attended Whittier Elementary and liked school, particularly music and recess. She loved attending church and being a part of the many Children's Primary programs. She loved to sing the children' s hymns and noted that she always seemed to have a speaking part. "Probably because I had a loud voice!" Leon left the family when Marion was 9, which caused great hurt. Her mother eventually met, fell in love with and married Fredrick Newman Clark from Clearfield, Utah, August 22, 1945. When Letha and Fred were married Marion felt the family was complete, bringing great joy and peace to her. Shortly afterwards the family moved from Salt Lake to Fred's farm in Clearfield where there were two of her favorite things: a horse and a piano. There was also an opportunity to drive the tractor and farm trucks, which Fred - "Dad" taught her to drive. Her self-proclaimed lead foot must have developed at this time. Her new dad was quite musical and had a wonderful voice so music became a much bigger part of Marion's life. She started taking piano lessons and while initially discouraged that it was not as easy as she had imagined, she loved it. For her first recital she learned and played "Fantasie-Impromptu" by Chopin. Chopin became her favorite composer. While living in Clearfield Marion attended North Junior High followed by Davis High School in Kaysville. While at Davis High she was able to attend Seminary. She loved Seminary and learning about the Church, the Gospel and about our Savior Jesus Christ. Half way through Marion's junior year the family moved from Clearfield to Menlow, Washington, an opportunity for Dad and his brother's dream of having a dairy operation to be realized. Marion saw this as another great adventure.They arrived in Menlow two days before Christmas and cut a Christmas tree from "their mountain", decorated it and the house and baked goodies so they'd be fully ready for Christmas. Marion attended Valley High School (now Willapa Valley High School), graduating in 1949. She participated in 4H where she and her partner won a blue ribbon for their Apple Betty, complete with "The Sauce". She also attended that year's 4H convention in Pullman, which required a train ride across nearly the entire state of Washington. The gospel and the small branch of the Church in Menlow was a big part of the family's life. Letha became the music director and taught Marion how to direct music. This began her lifelong love of choral directing, especially hymns of the gospel. Singing in or directing choirs, congregations, or small groups was a passion and form of worship for her throughout her life. Shortly after Marion graduated from high school the family moved back to Utah where there would be more LDS boys for Marion to date and hopefully marry. She enrolled at Weber College (A junior college then) where she studied general office administration and music. After the fall term the family moved to Salt Lake City and Marion enrolled at LDS Business College, an experience and place she dearly loved. In spite of her enthusiasm for school, she occasionally sold her text books, skipped class with her good friend and went to the movies or bowling, the next day returning to the bookstore to buy back her books so she could continue her studies. Though she liked school she loved being a working girl and took a job at Utah Power and Light in the Budget Department. In 1951 she was invited to go to the train station with a group of ward friends to welcome home a missionary who was returning from South Africa. This was her first encounter with Dale Reed, who she thought was "quite an Adonis", in spite of his travel-weary wrinkled condition. Her mother was horrified at this "forward" action; Marion was thrilled with this tall, dark, handsome, faith-filled fellow! The very next day she went out and bought a pair of 3-inch heels, perfectly ridiculous in her father's eyes, but she wasn't dissuaded. Dale and Marion started dating shortly thereafter. Their courtship was filled with the wonders of preparing to build a life together; they were married on November 2, 1951 in the Salt Lake Temple. The newlyweds set up housekeeping in Salt Lake where Marion continued working for Utah Power and Light and Dale built his career, eventually becoming a sales engineer in the apparatus division of General Electric. Marion worked until Kevin was born in 1955 when she quit the power company and became a full-time mother extraordinaire. Mark was born in 1958. To accommodate their growing family they moved to a tri-level home in Murray, Utah, part of a neighborhood full of children for the boys to play with and other moms who would be Marion's lifelong friends. The family was active in their ward with Marion serving faithfully and lovingly in many callings. She was happy to serve where called, but was especially happy when she served as the chorister or choir director. Her choir practices were full of music, fun, learning, friendly jabs and lots of laughter.This particular joy followed her through her life of music directing. She had most hymns memorized and they were a strong framework for her testimony of Jesus Christ. It was no surprise to those planning her funeral service that she requested a choir of former choir members to sing her favorite hymn, "I Stand All Amazed". If you are one of these lucky ones, you're invited to participate! Matthew's birth in the winter of 1969 was the beginning of an exciting chapter for the Reed family. Dale was transferred by G.E. to Boise. Marion was sure it was a short-term thing, that they would return to their "mother city" before baby Matthew started school. This was not to be though, and she put down roots, made new friends and settled in for this chapter, whatever it might bring. . Needless to say, though Marion was disappointed that her plan to return to Salt Lake never materialized, she flourished. She was a great supporter of the arts, participating in opera chorus', theater productions and her love of the piano through teaching others to love it too. Many students spent their half hour on her piano bench before school, after school or in the early evening. She also bowled, helped with history marionettes at the history museum for grade school kids and D.U.P. While she was a capable leader, she also followed graciously, helping whatever she was involved in succeed. In 1985 she went to work parttime as an elementary school office assistant. Her talent and skills for organizing and managing an office and children (firm but loving) were very useful. Shortly after she started she was hired full time, eventually transferring and working at Lowell Elementary in Boise until she retired. Retirement was an active concept for Marion (and Dale). When they were clear of employment commitments they launched into an extended mission chapter that included missions to Cape Town, South Africa, Chicago, Illinois, Seoul, South Korea, and the Boise, Idaho employment call center. She left her beautiful imprint on all these settings and on future generations of Reeds, who have eagerly followed in her missionary service path. Marion and Dale loved their family, attending graduations, baby blessings, baptisms, priesthood ordinations, setting aparts, weddings, track meets, football and basketball games, dance recitals, band concerts, marching band performances, plays, etc. After Dale's passing Marion continued to do this with the help of kids and grandkids, including one last basketball game and family dinner shortly before her passing. Marion tried everyday to live by the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. She loved her family, a good story and a hardy laugh, good music, dancing and a good recipe. And for some reason fast food fish sandwiches and hamburgers. Marion was preceded in death by her beloved mother and stepfather, Letha and Fred Clark, husband Dale, their middle son Mark (Elsa) and grandson Loren. She is survived by her younger sisters Linda Poelman and Sally Francis, sons Kevin (Ann) and Matthew (Jennifer) and eight grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. The family would like to extend their thanks to the doctors, nurses and the staff at Emerson House who cared for Marion the last few months. Your compassion and professional care was greatly appreciated. As well as loving thank you to friends and family who sneaked her fish sandwiches and hamburgers. A funeral service will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, February 14th, 2026 at the LDS chapel located at 4921 N. Mitchell Street, Boise, Idaho. Viewings will be held at the chapel the morning of the service from 9:45 to 10:45am and on the previous evening from 6:30 to 8:00pm. Interment will follow the funeral service at Dry Creek Cemetery.

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