Bernice Hyer McCowin

Bernice was born May 6, 1927, in Lewiston, Utah, the daughter of Saul Edward and Gladys Ledingham Christenson Hyer and grew up on a farm in Lewiston. She died peacefully on April 15, 2025, in Clearfield, Utah.

She was a Utah delegate to the National 4-H Club Congress in Chicago in 1943. She graduated from North Cache High School in 1945 and received a B.S. degree from Utah State Agricultural College in 1949, pursued graduate studies at the University of Utah, Idaho State University, and BYU-Ricks College, and received a master’s degree from Utah State University. She was employed as a schoolteacher, an office manager and, while a college student, worked summers for the War Department, Bryce Canyon, and Farmers Insurance in Los Angeles.

Bernice married Tius W. McCowin in the Logan LDS temple in 1948. Through his years of school and other training, they lived in various towns in Utah, Idaho, Maryland, California, and D.C. He became a physician and surgeon in Shelley and Idaho Falls, Idaho and died in 1992.

Heavily involved in church and community service, Bernice was a member of numerous boards, president of many organizations, and a frequent speaker for various organizations. She also chaired or co-chaired many special events in Idaho Falls and Logan. Bernice served three church-service missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She wrote a column for both the Idaho Falls and Logan newspapers, published the book, That Day in June: Reflections on the Teton Dam Disaster, completed an oral history project on Religious and Spiritual Diversity in Cache Valley for Cache Community Connections, and a manuscript, LDS Employment Service Success Stories. She is a member of Old Main Society, DUP, founder of Atheneum Book Club, and a mediator on the Utah Court Roster. She sponsors a USU scholarship for students in education, and currently serves on the USU College of Education & Human Services National Advisory Board.

Among the awards she has received for her years of community service are: KID-TVs Idaho Family Award (1982), USU Alumni Merit Citation (1984), I.F. Chamber of Commerce Service to the Community (1986), Idaho Falls Woman of the Year, (1987), Friend of Education (1987), Civitan Club’s Citizen of the Year (1988), INEL Service to the Community Award (1990), Chamber of Commerce (1991), Salute to Excellence (1992), Rotary Foundation Paul Harris Fellow (1993), USU Alumni Hall of Honor (2000), honorary doctorate from USU (2005),UDR Logan Mediator of the Year (2009), Cache County Silver Bowl Award (2010), Modern Pioneer Award (2011), Cache Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year (2012). She also received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023 from AmeriCorps and the Office of the President of the United States.

Her children include: Linda Rae McCowin (deceased), Phil McCowin (Mary), Boise, Idaho, Steven McCowin (Martha), Holladay, Utah, Susan Finch (Neil), San Diego, California, Robert (Liz), Liberty Utah, Marianne Davis (Kelly), Missoula, Montana, Daphne Garrett, (Mike) Syracuse, Utah. The McCowins raised two additional children: Beth Ladd Murray (Kris), Lolo, Montana, and Roberto Quispe, (deceased). She is also survived by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Four siblings, Marjorie Gardner, Pauline Buehler, Lois Cook, and Charles Hyer are deceased. She is survived by a sister-in-law, Karen, Preston, Idaho.

Other interests included domestic and international travel, the arts, sports, reading, homemaking, skiing, boating, horseback and camping trips, and a family lodge near Teton Valley Wyoming. Many people have enjoyed vacations at the lodge and many young people lived in her Logan home, gratis, while attending school.

There will be a visitation on Friday, May 9th from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at the Allen Mortuary of North Logan (420 East 1800 North) There will be a viewing from 9:00 am - 10:00 am followed by the funeral service on Saturday, May 10th at 10:00 am at the LDS Church located at 1255 North 600 East, Logan Utah. She will be buried in the Pratt Cemetery in Alta, Wyoming Saturday afternoon.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to the USU scholarship or to a children’s hospital would be welcome.

Memories and condolences may be shared and expressed at www.allenmortuaries.net.