LaRene Drew

LaRene Beck Drew passed away peacefully on February 6, 2025, in Alpine, UT. She was born April 30, 1933 in Alpine, daughter of Verland and Leland Beck, who were both descended from multi-generational Alpine families. She was raised in the small, familiar, secure community where she spent her entire life surrounded by her 6 sisters, one brother, and numerous relatives and friends. Virtually everyone in the small town of Alpine was related to her or connected in some way.

As a child, she attended the small elementary school and played with her siblings and friends. Of course, she shared routine household chores and responsibilities, which included tending younger siblings, picking fruit, gathering eggs, canning fruits and vegetables, pulling weeds, attending church activities and community celebrations, singing parts, playing inside and outside, and sewing, which was to become her passion later in life. She also developed her trademark, infectious smile and twinkle in her eye whenever she was up to something.

As a teen she attended American Fork Junior High and High School where she learned to play the clarinet in the band, attended dances and activities and where she and her friends chased the boys.

For most of her life she was familiar with LaMar Drew, who was two years older than her in school and who lived in town and farmed up Alpine's Fort Canyon, but it was only in her junior year of high school that they began to date. By the start of her senior year their attraction had blossomed into serious romance. LaMar proposed to her just before the opening of the deer hunt, so she wouldn't go out with any other guys while he was gone. On December 4, 1950, they were sealed together in the Salt Lake Temple by Apostle Harold B. Lee and moved into a two-room adobe cabin on her parent's property that only had an outhouse and no plumbing. LaRene spent four months living near the military base in Maryland to be close to LaMar during his time in the Army, and briefly near the base in Arizona, the only time in her life when she lived anywhere outside of Alpine.

Once LaMar completed his military commitment, they threw themselves into building a happy, abundant, self-reliant life in Alpine. They grew raspberries, tomatoes, squash, onions, potatoes, and peas in their garden, picked apples, peaches, and apricots and canned fruit, dried vegetables, went fishing and hunted deer. During the deer hunt LaRene carried a gun and occasionally shot a bigger buck than LaMar, which she made sure was common knowledge. The meat was welcomed and made it possible to have a roast or steaks for Sunday dinner.

In February,1956, Robyn was born. Now the two-room cabin without plumbing would no longer do, so in the summer of 1957 they moved into a new three-bedroom home on the corner of 1 st North and 2 nd East, which LaMar built with the help of friends and relatives.

In October, 1957, Karrie was born, and then Lesa followed in November, 1963 and Camile in January, 1967.

Sewing was LaRene's passion. She made all her daughters' clothes and her own and even a few for LaMar. The girls were always immaculately dressed, which was a great source of pride for her. Nowhere were four more beautiful girls in one family and LaRene's sewing was a vital part of the family economy and culture. The girls were involved in choosing patterns and fabric and then the clothes were always meticulously sewed and perfectly fitted, plus they had the added ingredient of love. Moreover, the girls had the biggest collection of home-made Barbie clothes in the country. Returning from school, each of the girls would usually find LaRene in her sewing room working on her latest project or beautifying her yard or planting flowers.

Besides sewing and seasonal gardening and canning, LaRene's life was busy in other ways. She was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She and LaMar attended church on Sunday and served in numerous callings. The family went on multiple camping trips each year, often with sisters and friends to places like the sand dunes, Capitol Reef, Moon Lake, Strawberry Reservoir, Lake Powell, Granite Flats, and all the National Parks in Utah. She loved to be in bowling leagues where she often won trophies, and she always participated in ladies' clubs. And, of course, there were regular family gatherings and visits with so many sisters nearby.

In 1972, with help from each brother-in-law and many friends, LaMar completed a large, new home on over an acre of ground at the end of the road on 600 East. As the four girls grew up, keeping on top of her daughters' dating became nearly a full-time job. LaRene made an effort to get to know the army of boys who pursued her daughters and tried to influence her daughters and the boys to make good choices. Most of the boys felt welcome and loved talking with LaRene, even if the daughter wasn't home. Through all this was her familiar twinkle in her eye as she was often up to something.

Once Camile, the youngest, was in school, she took a job in Alpine School District where she thrived first as an aide and later as a secretary. As time went on, she became essential to the smooth-running of the school and enjoyed her association with teachers, administration, parents and kids. She worked in several schools in the District, but her longest tenure was with Highland Elementary School.

As her daughters married and moved away, she and LaMar were able to travel to many places such as Hawaii, Alaska, Costa Rica and to visit their children and grandchildren who lived out of state. And through it all, they always had their large home and property to take care of, which included the garden and orchard which was made available to everyone in the family and neighbors.

As the two of them aged, their focus became more and more one of caring for each other. LaRene cooked and cared for LaMar as she encouraged him to use good judgement while he continued to do electrical work and projects around the house and the community, despite advancing age.

Throughout her life, as LaRene faced her generous share of life's tragedies, disappointments, surgeries, and challenges, she remained steady and strong. During her last season in assisted living, she remained one of the staff favorites and exhibited her characteristic impish laughter and twinkle right to the end.

LaRene was preceded in death by her husband of 71 years, LaMar H Drew, her brother, five sisters, two sons-in-law, and her parents. She is survived by one sister, four daughters: Robyn (Wayne Allred), Karrie (Harry Schmid), Lesa (Dave Mecham) and Camile; 37 grandchildren, 39 great grandchildren and 2 great, great grandchildren with a total posterity of 85.

We are grateful for the loving care given to her by all those at River Meadows Assisted Living, along with Brooke Lee and Dr. Doug Mower.

Her funeral will be held at 1:00 PM on Monday, February 10 at the Alpine red brick church, 165 North 100 East. There will be a viewing prior to the funeral at 11:30 AM. Interment will be at the Alpine Cemetery.

In memory of LaRene, give a smile and a hug to those you love.

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