Betty Lou Davis Brand

Betty Lou Davis Brand, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, educator, and friend, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 6, 2023 at the age of 90. Betty’s unwavering faith in the God-given potential of every individual was her greatest gift and characterized her life’s work. Betty cheerfully and consistently inspired all, one by one, and without judgment.

Betty was born on May 4, 1933 to Delecta and Walter Davis and grew up in Ogden, Utah. Betty was proud of her Mormon pioneer heritage and was a critical link to many stories, memories, and faces from the past. She was the great-granddaughter of Richard Ballantyne, the founder of the Sunday School of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the granddaughter of Louis F. Moench, the founding president of Weber State University.

On what she often described as an “enchanted evening” in 1952, Betty saw “a stranger, across a crowded room” at a dance near Bear Lake: a tall, handsome man from Nebraska named Dean Oscar Brand. They danced, fell in love, and married in Ogden in 1953. They were later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. Dean was the love of her life and best friend. They were married 55 years and raised four sons. Dean built a home in Fruit Heights where they made lifelong friends and served the community.

Betty’s passion was teaching and working with youth, first with students that excelled, then with teens who struggled with traditional schooling. Betty earned a bachelor's degree in English Education and went on to earn a master’s degree in Education Psychology. She had a remarkable career, first as debate coach at Davis High School where she led her students to three state championships. She later worked as principal of Mountain High School, where she helped thousands of struggling students graduate and pursue higher education. This second phase of her career was particularly gratifying. Betty cherished close friendships with many of her students throughout her life.

She also served in many volunteer positions through her work in education and as a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including several teaching assignments and service in the Bountiful Temple for three years. One of her favorite Church callings was helping young girls at the Farmington Bay Youth Center, a correctional facility for teens.

Betty and Dean loved to travel and enjoyed the fine arts. She adored her ten grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, and she relished the role of grandmother. Whenever she could, she combined these loves by planning family trips, encouraging grandchildren’s travel, or organizing family outings to the theater or exhibits. She often shared her strong faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ with her family. She was the creator of many traditions, is dearly loved by her family, and will be greatly missed.

Betty loved researching family history and she was considered a key family historian in her husband’s family, gathering Brand history and photos from Nebraska and beyond. Betty also recorded dozens of fun and inspiring audio family stories on FamilySearch, which are a treasure to her family.

It was a wonderful life, but not without challenges, including the death of her eldest son, Elder Mark W. Brand, who died while serving a mission in 1979. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Dean, who died from Alzheimer’s disease in 2008; her brother, Robert Davis; and her parents. Betty’s faith in Jesus Christ and the next life assured her she would see her loved ones again.

Betty is survived by her sons Bruce (Karie), Bountiful; Vance (Kira), Millcreek; and Ryan (Davina), Sandy; and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother, Larry Davis (Josette) and her sister-in-law, Beverly Davis. 

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 12 at the Bountiful 9th ward chapel, 585 East Center Street, Bountiful, Utah. A viewing will be held at Lindquist’s Kaysville Mortuary, 400 N Main St, Kaysville, Utah, on Monday, September 11, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and at the chapel on Tuesday from 9:30 to10:30 a.m.

 The funeral will also be streamed live and may be viewed at www.lindquistmortuary.com by scrolling to the bottom of Betty’s obituary page.

Interment will be at the Kaysville City Cemetery.

The family wishes to thank the staff at The Beaumont and Utah Home Health & Hospice for their tender care.

Condolences may be sent to www.lindquistmortuary.com