Laurel Fae Johnson was born in Murray, Utah on November 4, 1948. She was a tiny little baby and because of this, everyone called her Dollie. Little Dollie loved growing up in Murray with her siblings, cousins, and many friends. One of her fondest memories was walking down to her dad's Texaco station where he would let her drink a warm soda; the ones in the cooler were only for paying customers. She also loved going up into the canyon to eat breakfast with her family, a tradition she kept with her own family all her life.

Whenever people asked Laurel what she wanted to be when she grew up, she'd say she wanted to be a "tender-baby cooker-lady." This was a dream Laurel definitely fulfilled. After graduating from Murray High in 1967, Laurel attended the University of Utah. It was there that she met the love of her life, Benjamin Bean. Ben and Laurel married March 19, 1970 in the Salt Lake City temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Only one year later they had their first child and Laurel happily became a stay-at-home mom. Laurel and Ben lived in several places in their first years of marriage including Oklahoma, California, Cedar City, and Provo before finally settling in their forever home in Orem. Over those years they had 5 more children and Laurel continued to love tending her children, and other people's children. She became a second mother to many friends and college students and was affectionately called Ma Bean. Nothing gave her greater joy than becoming a grandma and tending her 17 beautiful grandchildren.

Cooking also became one of Laurel's greatest talents and passions, and she sought out many opportunities to refine her talent and serve others with her food. She made dozens of cakes for eagle courts of honor, hundreds of trays of mint brownies for wedding receptions, mission farewells, and funerals, and thousands of delicious rolls with raspberry jam and countless other treats she was always eager to share.

Though Laurel often showed love with food, she also expressed it through her bright and beautiful smile and genuine kind conversations. She was always full of encouraging words and a great joke. She was a playful optimist and though she battled chronic pain for many years, she was always quick to laugh, tease, and make any situation more fun.

Out of small things cometh that which is great. Laurel was a very petite woman and she often felt that her contributions and service were small or insignificant, but we know that her quiet acts had a great impact on countless people as she served and loved them one by one. Laurel had a great love of the Savior and a strong testimony of His gospel. She was somewhat shy to bare her testimony in words, but she expressed it in the ways she served and loved and lived with great integrity and humility. We will forever be better for her influence on each of us.

Laurel was proceeded in death by her beloved parents, Frank and Laura Johnson, her sweetheart Ben, parents-in-law (Bryan and Echo Bean) and sister-in-law (Nancy Bouck). She is survived and will be missed dearly by her siblings, siblings-in-law, her children - Joel (Natale) Bean, Laura (Dan) Stromberg, Tom (Cindy) Bean, Andy (Kirsten) Bean, Suzie Bean, and Ashley (Jordan) Hix- her 17 grandchildren, and her faithful companion Cocoa.

Funeral Services will be Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at 12 pm in the Sunset Heights 8th Ward, 500 South 600 West, Orem. Family and friends may visit at the church Monday evening from 6-8 pm or Tuesday morning from 10:30-11:30 am. Interment will be in the Orem City Cemetery.