Bernice Helquist Perkins

May 27, 1927 ~ November 25, 2021

Bernice Helquist Perkins was born to John and Beatrice Helquist on May 27, 1927.  She was the oldest of eight children and was raised in Blanding. 

Bernice preferred working outside driving the tractor, riding horses, milking cows, and helping her dad.  

Bernice met Carl Bayles Perkins when he came home from the service.  They were married a year later in Kirtland, NM and were sealed together as a family July 15, 1964, in the Manti temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  They were blessed with six children: Sheila, Sandy, Anne, Monte, Chad, and Heidi.

Carl worked as a cattleman in partnership with his brothers. He and Bernice enjoyed their active lives raising their family and working on the cattle ranch the first 20 years of their marriage.

In January 1967, Carl suffered a massive stroke which left him partially paralyzed and unable to speak. He spent a year in the hospital receiving therapy. Bernice brought him home and cared for him until he died in June of 1979.

Bernice started working at First Security Bank after Carl got sick; she worked there for 20 years. A year later, Bernice and her sister Ora started the bed and breakfast. They ran that for five years, really enjoying the people they met.

In the Spring of 1996, Bernice started spending time with Scott Hurst; they eloped on August 6, 1996. They worked together in the Manti temple.

Scott was diagnosed with cancer in October and passed away February 9, 1998. We as children realized the strength and resilience our mother had.

Bernice loved the gospel and serving others. She held many church callings throughout her life. Her favorites were working in the Relief Society organization.

Bernice is preceded in death by her parents, John and Beatrice; her siblings, Maurice Helquist, Veloy Hawkins, and Ora Bayles; her husbands, Carl Perkins and Scott Hurst; and a son, Chad H. Perkins.

She is survived by children Sheila (Kenny) Mortensen, Sandy (Bob) Brown, Anne (Jerry) Howell, Monty (Snookie) Perkins, Heidi (Don) Pilling; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and Scott Hurst’s posterity.