She was wife, mother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend, beloved by all. Through hugs, phone calls, notes, greeting cards, and her never-failing smile, she always let us know how much she loved us, both in words and deeds.
She was born in Roosevelt, Utah on October 28, 1937, to Rondo and Beth Sullivan. She and her parents moved to Vernal, Utah when she was in the sixth grade, and she was the big sister to seven younger siblings. She had her Aunt Rhea as a frequent playmate, who was just a few years older.
She graduated from Uintah High School in 1955. During her senior year, she was known as Mrs. Billings, as she had married Lewis DeLyle Billings on August 19, 1954.
She met her sweetheart of 69 years through her best friend and eventual sister-in-law, Marva, as they conspired to make it official that they were to be sisters. DeLyle often stated that when he married Arlene, he got Marva as part of the deal.
Arlene and DeLyle lived on the road with North American Van Lines for the first year after high school, traveling throughout much of the country and sleeping in their truck along the way. They welcomed their sons, DeLyle Chris, in 1958, and Kary D., in 1964.
From 1960 to 1977 she oversaw the Medical Records for Uintah County Hospital. Kary often slept on the floor while she worked into the night. In 1977 the family moved to Salt Lake City. For a few years, she did accounting for an auto body shop, recordkeeping at an assisted living facility, and worked in an elementary school as a secretary.
In 1982 the family purchased Plaza Cycle, a large motorcycle dealership. Arlene, DeLyle, Chris, and Kary worked closely together for many years, overseeing all aspects of the 50-employee business, with all four working long hours but making good friends and enjoying the support of faithful employees. This dealership grew to become one of the largest in the country before being sold in 2000.
The family experienced major grief when Chris died in 1998 from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. After this, the joy of working together in the dealership was greatly diminished.
Arlene was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She held many callings, including Primary President, Young Women’s President, Relief Society President, and Visiting Teacher. As Sunday School and Sacrament Meeting Chorister, she led the hymn singing, frequently with Kary accompanying on the piano or organ, and encouraged all to sing big and strong. She loved the gospel, often saying that life was nothing without it. She was grateful to her parents for their good example.
She loved all her nieces and nephews, saying often how special they were to her. She spent lots of time with them when they were younger, planning un-birthday parties in the park, and organizing the annual Christmas gatherings, with all of them packed into the basement waiting for Santa to arrive.
Arlene and DeLyle were able to travel to over 100 countries, visiting all seven continents, often on free trips won through dealership bonuses. She loved reading, music, attending plays, and her weekly shopping sprees with Marva. She loved the visits from family, especially precious time recently spent with Ken and Ro Jean.
Arlene is survived by her husband of 69 years, Lewis DeLyle Billings; son Kary (Curtis) Billings; daughter-in-law Kimberly Billings; siblings Carolyn (Joseph) Olschewski, Kay (Penny) Sullivan, Leta Sullivan, Cecilia Sullivan, Eric (Janice) Sullivan, Verdell (Jennifer) Sullivan, and Ro Jean (Kenneth) Bassett; aunt Rhea Richins, and her “Japanese son”, Nobuya (Miwa) Nyumura. She loved DeLyle’s parents, brothers, and sisters as her own.
Arlene is preceded in death by her parents, Rondo and Beth Sullivan; son, DeLyle Chris Billings; and brothers Arvid and Leonard.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 7, 2023, at 11 AM at the Little Cottonwood 20th Ward Church, 1160 Vine Street, Murray, Utah 84107. Viewings will be held Friday evening 6-8 PM and Saturday morning 9:30-10:45 AM, both at the church. Burial at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 S Highland Dr, Millcreek, Utah 84106.
