Elizabeth "Betty" Baldwin Parker, 83, passed away peacefully in her sleep on the morning of December 22, 2025. Betty was born on July 23, 1942, in upstate New York. Her family soon settled in Ithaca, a place she loved deeply and spoke of often throughout her life. If you knew Betty, you likely heard stories of her childhood there—memories she cherished and gladly shared.

Though her family was not LDS, a family friend encouraged her to attend Brigham Young University. After graduating high school, she moved west to Provo, Utah, where she embraced a new chapter of her life. It was in Utah where she met the love of her life, Glen Parker. They married and made their home in Lehi, Utah in the early 60's.

Lehi was a quieter, slower-paced place than it is today, and it marked the beginning of a life rooted in family, community, and service for Betty and Glen. Betty worked as a freelance journalist for the Lehi Free Press and The Daily Herald, where she combined her talents as a writer and photographer, covering local stories and capturing moments of everyday life. Writing was a gift she carried with her always, along with a lifelong love of reading. She was never without a good book.

That love of books led her to a career with Alpine School District as the media specialist at the newly opened Meadow Elementary School in Lehi. She treasured her years in the library, sharing stories and fostering a love of reading to so many children. Many students remembered sitting around her as she read aloud in the library—a place where her warmth and passion for learning were felt by all.

After nearly 20 years as a media specialist, Betty returned to school at Westminster University in Salt Lake City, where she completed her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. She then went on to teach first grade for the remainder of her career. Teaching children was her passion, and she found great joy in helping young learners discover confidence and curiosity through books.

Betty also loved to travel and experience the world beyond her home. She visited Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Malta, Croatia, Spain, France, Egypt, Hawaii, Alaska, and Grand Cayman, and always spoke fondly of those adventures. No matter where she went, she especially loved the beach—watching the waves, feeling the sun, and savoring the peace those moments brought her.

Above all else, Betty's greatest love was her family. Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were the most important priority in the world to her. She was the heart of the home, especially in the kitchen. Family dinners—particularly Sunday dinners—were a treasured tradition, filled with laughter and the unmistakable comfort of her from-scratch chicken noodle soup, roasts with mashed potatoes and gravy, and her homemade breads, pies, and goodies. Her kitchen was rarely quiet, often busy at dinnertime during the week and sometimes all day on weekends, and always full of love.

Betty also had a genuine love for animals. Over the years, she cared for dogs, cats, and at various times lambs, horses, ducks and a rooster. Her children and grandchildren inherited her affection for pets, a reflection of her gentle and caring nature.

Elizabeth is survived by her children and their families: Glenna Proctor, and her children Cole (Paige) and Jacob (Samantha) Proctor, and her great-grandchildren Royal, Dean, and Beau; Greg Parker, and his son Nikolas Parker; Amy (Dirk) Jensen, and her children Jordan and Parker (Shylee) Jensen, and her great-grandchildren Lafe and Lainey; and Jeff (Holly) Parker, and their children Allie, Mia, Leah, and Sara Parker.

She truly loved and always spoke fondly of her dearest friends, Cheri and Ruth Ann.

Betty was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Glen Parker, who passed away in 2017; her parents, Merle and Mae Baldwin; her brother, Peter. Betty will be remembered as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, teacher, writer, and friend—someone who quietly shaped lives through kindness, learning, and love. Her legacy lives on in the many hearts she touched and the countless stories she shared.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, December 29, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Wing Mortuary, 118 East Main Street, Lehi, Utah. A viewing will be held prior to the service from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

An additional viewing will be held on Sunday, December 28, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Wing Mortuary.