Maurine Bentley Miles

Maurine Bentley Miles, age 96, passed away peacefully August 15, 2023, at her home with her family at her side. The moment of her death was accompanied by a spectacular sunset and a very rare double rainbow. She was born October 17, 1926, to Iris Stowell and Mathew Bentley, the oldest of five daughters and one son. She attended school in St. George, was a cheerleader in high school and college, and in the D Day Royalty. She enjoyed working at Fenton’s Pharmacy and acquired a love for a good authentic chocolate soda. She attended BYU immediately before her marriage to Harold Richard “Dick” Miles. A glimpse into his sense of humor was that he always said he had to save her from all the returned missionaries at BYU. So, he and Ronald McArthur burned up the road between St. George and Provo for several months while she attended BYU for two quarters.

Maurine and Dick were married in the St. George Temple on March 18, 1947. Three children joined their family, and Maurine was a full-time homemaker. Then in 1959, she went to work at the Washington County School District office as an accounting technician for two weeks to earn enough money to buy drapes for the front room of their new house. She retired 30 years later in 1989 without ever taking a day of sick leave. Her interactions with all the district employees and especially the district office staff were a source of great pleasure for her.

Being a Lion and a Lady Lion was a big part of life for Dick and Maurine. The Lions put on the rodeo every year, which was a big job for a small club. They must not have slept for two weeks during rodeo because they built floats for the Children’s Parade for years. Their parade pursuit partners were the Pitchforth, McMullin, and McArthur families. They also had responsibilities at the other parades, and the most fun for Maurine was working in the concession stands selling hotdogs, peanuts, popcorn, and soda. There was a lot of camaraderie in those days. She missed not participating in Lady Lions the last several years of her life.

She learned to golf when the city built the first golf course. She enjoyed golfing with the Red Hills Ladies group and golfed into her 80s. Dick and Maurine enjoyed an annual golfing trip to the Homestead in the Heber Valley for years with the McArthur’s, the Quayle’s, the Covington’s, and the McMullin’s. They also started doing a lot of traveling in their retirement and enjoyed many cruises.

She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints her entire life and served in many capacities: Relief Society President, Young Women teacher, Primary Presidency, Temple Ordinance Worker, a 90-year-old Primary teacher, and various other callings. In 1995-1996, she and Dick served a mission for the LDS Church in the Washington D.C. North Mission. Her school district office skills translated well to the financial accounting responsibilities in the mission office. They thoroughly enjoyed working with the young missionaries and quickly found a following of hungry missionaries that would show up at noon because Dick and Maurine would take them to lunch if they were around. And surprise, surprise, the missionaries were always there at noon.

In 1964, the Pine Valley era started. Dick and Maurine built a small cabin in the middle of the town. That became their treasured get away and respite from the summer heat. They worked on the cabin for years to get it furnished. They enjoyed that cabin for 28 years until the addition of grandchildren made it hard for everyone to fit. They built the Pine Valley home of their dreams in 1992, where many wonderful family memories were made. After they returned from their mission, they spent most of their time in Pine Valley enjoying the relaxed lifestyle, the wildlife that wandered in the yard, the carefully planted flowers, the beauty of the valley, and the cooler temperatures. They hosted many parties for their friends and for the wards they were in. They were well attended because everyone wanted to go to Pine Valley in the summer.

Maurine was a wonderful mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She remembered every birthday with a card and a gift.

She experienced an amazing amount of change in her 96 years, and she was sorry to see St. George grow and change so much from the small intimate town where you knew everyone that you saw in town every day. She lived a life of service to her family, community, and church.

Maurine is survived by her children, Rick Miles, St. George, Utah, Kathryn “Sug” Miles and Chuck Houston, Reno, Nevada, and Robert and Debra Miles, currently serving an LDS Mission in Milano, Italy and her sisters, Patricia Hughes of Stilllwater, Oklahoma; Elaine Nielsen, of Smithfield, Utah; and her brother, Reed Bentley of Amalga, Utah. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dick Miles, her parents, Iris and Mathew Bentley, two sisters, Yvonne Cooper and Rhoda Ann Seegmiller, and a granddaughter, Tracy Kamerath.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, August 28, 2023, at 11:00 am, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Southgate 1st Ward Building, 1068 West Chandler Dr., St. George, Utah. Friends may call Sunday August 27, 2023, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 South Bluff Street, St. George, Utah, and Monday, August 28, 2023, from 9:30 - 10:30 am, at the chapel.

The interment will take place at St. George City Cemetery, 650 East Tabernacle Street, St. George, Utah.

Friends and family that are unable to attend the servicecs in person are welcome to attend them virtually by clicking on the link below:

https://southgate.southgatestake.com

Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S. Bluff St, St. George, Utah. (435) 673-2454.

The family wishes to thank Intermountain Health Care Hospice for their kind and compassionate care. Thank you Kandalee and Maddy.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Washington County Historical Society.

Friends and family are invited to sign Maurine’s online guestbook at www.spilsburymortuary.com