Carolyn Bethers Roney

Our beloved mother, Carolyn Leslie Bethers Roney, passed away Wednesday, February 16, 2022, in Indianapolis, Indiana, after a lingering illness. She was born to Leslie and Mabel Bethers on March 12, 1947, as the second of four sisters.

She grew up in Heber City and attended Wasatch High School, where she was the head cheerleader and voted “most flirtatious.” She was crowned Miss Wasatch County and competed in the Miss Utah pageant and was among the 10 finalists. She later attended Utah State University, where she majored in a semester of “boys and sunbathing.”

She returned to Heber City, married Gordon Van Wagoner, and was blessed with four sons.
While raising her sons, she attended Brigham Young University majoring in Psychology and Communications. She had a special love and interest in children that were part of a divorce. As a result, she co-founded the Divorce Advisement Center, with offices at Cotton Tree Square in Provo, where she provided workshops that covered the legal and emotional process of divorce, facilitated visitations, and advocated for those who needed help. She was the author of many children’s books on divorce and a highly sought-after speaker for Especially for Youth and the State of Utah Governor forums.

During her work as a Divorce Counselor, she met her best friend, Nedra Roney, who then introduced Carolyn to the love of her life, Arden Roney, and his eight children. Arden asked for Carloyn’s hand in marriage and permission to adopt her four boys. They were sealed for ‘time and all eternity’ in the Las Vegas Temple and spent over 21 years together. Together, they traveled the world and enjoyed being grandparents to his and her many grandchildren. She loved going on her “Grandma tours,” and her greatest passion was spending time with her sons and grandchildren.

She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and enjoyed serving in various capacities, with her favorite being her work with the youth.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Arden Roney, and her parents, Leslie and Mabel Bethers. She is survived by her sons: Brad (Lori) Roney, Ryan (Dorothy) Roney, Greg (Christy) Roney, and Reagan (Patience) Roney; three sisters, Bonnie (Lou) Fischer, Julie (Brett) Robbins, Shirley Bleazard, 81 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, February 26, 2022, at 10:00 AM at Heber Valley Funeral Home 288 N Main St, Heber City, UT 84032. Interment will be in the Heber City Cemetery.