Althora Marie "Sophie" Bell Darrington

Althora Marie “Sophie” Bell Darrington, 92, of Syracuse, Utah, quietly slipped away Sunday, December 4th, 2022 after visiting one last time with all of her family and friends whom she loved so dearly.

Sophie was born September 20th, 1930 to Albert and Jennie Bell of Albion, Idaho.

On a Wednesday, May 19th, 1948 she was sealed to her eternal companion Mont “Kay” Darrington in the Salt Lake Temple, and then returned to High School the following Monday to finish her senior year.

Sophie grew up in a tiny log cabin house without electricity or modern plumbing. She shared a room with her parents until she was 15 years-old. Being the youngest of 8 children, she didn’t have many assigned chores but learned the value of hard work from watching her parents. She milked cows, churned butter, gathered eggs and walked to town with her mother to sell them to the local market. She was indeed one of the hardest working people we know.

Habitually she arose early every day of her life and got dressed up even if she wasn’t going anywhere. She was always ready. Sophie had a stubbornness that could heal her from anything and keep her going even if she was exhausted.

Since childhood she has been a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Walking to church with her mother every Sunday to get the pot belly stove going and dust the benches before the congregation arrived, she learned to arrive early, serve and be dependable.

Her first calling came at age 11 when she was called as Primary Secretary. She was a valiant Visiting Teacher and served faithfully all her life in Ward and Stake callings including Primary, YW, and RS Presidencies, and loved serving alongside her husband in the Ogden Temple as Ordinance Workers where they made lifelong friends.

More than anything Sophie loved being “Grandma D.” For years she spoiled her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren with Season Passes to Lagoon. One summer she surprised each of them and Mickey Mouse when she took every member of her family to DisneyLand.

Her candy making skills were unsurpassed and every Christmas there was always a huge pan of homemade caramels with a butter knife conveniently laid in the pan so that we could cut whatever size piece we wanted.

There was scarcely a time when anyone came to visit that she didn’t have a crochet hook in her hand, and the Jazz or the PBR on the TV. She knew every bull rider and the bulls’ name and their history by heart. For years she voluntarily coached the Utah Jazz from her Lazy-boy while crocheting. She generously blessed thousands of lives from here to Zambia with blankets and hats that she crocheted. Sophie was fortunate to have each member of her family close by her throughout her entire life. Every season of her life and ours overflow with precious memories that are personal and priceless to us all.

Reading storybooks, going to Rodeos, making caramels and candy trains, learning to sew, canning, serving, going on fancy cruises or frequent rides to Antelope Island, sleepovers, long talks on the phone, and dining at Maddox, Utah Noodle, and the Spring Chicken Inn...

One would be hard pressed to even begin to guess the number of performances, soccer, baseball, softball, and basketball games she has attended as a mother, grandma, and great-grandma. From the first day she became a mother to the last great-grandchild she held in her arms, she has enriched our lives beyond measure and we are grateful.

No doubt she was feisty, lively, determined, and courageous. She wanted things to be right. At times one could feel we were never enough, but rehearsing it gently we understand that she could see our greatness long before it was there and always knew we could be more.

Sophie loved passionately, served diligently, felt deeply, and gave all. When we reach for you, our emptiness is filled with memories. It isn’t the same as when you were right here, but it is more than enough. We love you and always knew we were loved.

Sophie is preceded in death by her husband (Mont Kay Darrington), daughter (Carol Ann Darrington), son (David Kevin Darrington), father (Albert Bell), mother (Jennie Harris Bell), brother (Floyde Bell), brother (Leslie Bell), sister (Chole Ward), brother (Leo Bell), sister (Melba Egbert), brother (Deward Bell),and brother (Dale Bell). Sophie is survived by her daughters Sandra Kaye Peters, Betty Jo (Kent) Warnick, Connie Sue Gold, Debra Lyn Darrington, 22 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren, and 9 great-great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, December 15, 2022 at 11am at the Syracuse 6^th Ward Chapel, 2339 W. 1900 S, Syracuse, Utah. Friends may visit with family on Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Syracuse Mortuary, 869 South 2000 West and Thursday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church. Interment, Syracuse City Cemetery, Syracuse, Utah.

Services will be live-streamed and available the day of the services.

You are invited to a Zoom webinar.

When: Dec 15, 2022 11:00 am Mountain Time (US and Canada)

Topic: Funeral Services for Sophie Darrington

Please click the link below to join the webinar:

https://zoom.us/j/94874419312

International numbers available: https://zoom.us/u/avMXeR7v3