Afton (Bennion) Alleman

Afton Bennion Alleman passed away on Thursday, April 7, 2022 at her home in Springville, Utah, after receiving visits from her family and loved ones. Afton was born on December 25, 1929 at home in Duchesne, Utah, while her older brothers sat outside in the family car waiting for updates about her arrival. Leo and Elva (Billings) Bennion were so thrilled to receive a baby girl as their Christmas present that year.

As a child of the depression, Afton learned to “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without,” and passed that sentiment on to her children with enthusiasm! She learned the art of sewing, mending, cooking, canning, gardening, and knew how to keep herself and her family members busy.

Afton loved her husband, Glenn Leonard Alleman, with all her heart. They met while she was attending BYU and impatiently waited for him to return from his mission. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on June 6, 1951 and moved their little family to Las Vegas in 1954. They loved their time in Vegas and, between them both, taught hundreds of students and influenced countless colleagues, friends, and neighbors with their Christ-like love.

Raising her 5 children in “sin city”, as she liked to call it, was one of the greatest joys of her life. She taught them to be kind, selfless, courageous, and a bit stubborn, just like herself. As a family, she loved to travel across the United States during the summer to see every battlefield, church site, or museum. One of the family’s favorite activities was to climb into the Jeep, hook up the cannon and drive into the desert in search of an old abandoned refrigerator to aim at and destroy.

Afton loved teaching elementary school, painting landscapes, swimming on hot days, and waking her kids up early on Saturday mornings by forcefully spraying water into the flowerbeds outside their windows. She delighted in remodeling her home, trying to raise fruit and vegetables in the Vegas heat, and serving in the Church. But most of all, she loved her family – her husband Glenn; her 3 sons and 2 daughters: Kurt (Marie), Stuart (Cindy), Kristine (Jeff) Dunn, Karyl Lee (Carlyle) Workman, Von (Susan) and she adored her 22 grandchildren and her 54 great-grandchildren.

After retiring to Springville in 1990, Afton stayed involved by participating in the Daughter of the Utah Pioneers (Calico Camp), being a docent at the Springville Art Museum, attending art classes at the Senior Center, and assisting Glenn with the Springville Historical Society. She was thrilled to be selected, along with Glenn, as Citizens of the Year in 2012 and Grand Marshalls of the parade during Art City Days.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Glenn, and all of her siblings. She was the last Bennion to go, but what a marvelous family she has to greet her on the other side. What a reunion they must be having!

A viewing for friends and family will be held for Afton from 6:00 – 8:00 PM, Friday, April 15, 2022 at Wheeler Mortuary located at 211 East 200 South, Springville, Utah and the following morning, April 16, from 9:30 – 10:30 AM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building located at 55 North Main Street, Springville, Utah.

The funeral services in honor of Afton will be held at the same building after the viewing on Saturday, April 16, 2022 at 11:00 AM. Interment will be immediately following the services at the Historic Springville City Cemetery located at 400 South 200 West, Springville, Utah.

For those unable to join us in person, you may view the services HERE