Margaret Gene Hinckley Bennion, affectionately known as Genie, was born on December 1, 1941, in Boston, Massachusetts, to John Noble Hinckley and Elizabeth Skolfield Hinckley. She was adored by her three older sisters: Mimi, Jane, Ann, and their brother, Peter Stevens. 

She grew up in a home filled with love. Her mother and father were active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Boston area and constantly opened their Belmont home to students and members of the community. Her parents instilled in her a love and a light that she shared with all who came into her orbit. 

Growing up in Boston, she and her mother frequented museums together and especially loved the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Love of art followed Genie to Brigham Young University where she majored in French and art. During her undergraduate years she served a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Paris, France for two years. She loved living in France and sharing the joy of Jesus Christ. From that time on, she carried with her a love of the French people and all things French. 

At the conclusion of her missionary service in France, she returned to her hometown of Boston. It was there that she connected with Lynn Bennion, a student in Boston, who she had met briefly in France when they were missionaries. They went on five dates in five days, and their love story took off from there.

Lynn and Genie were married in the Oakland California temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on August 26,1966. Their honeymoon started with an early morning fishing trip with Lynn’s younger twin brothers during which Genie was seasick and no fish were caught. From there they drove across the country with a series of misadventures along the way, including a flat tire in the Nevada desert where they had to unload all of their belongings and wedding gifts on the side of the road in order to access the spare tire. 

Married life began in Boston as Lynn started medical school. Genie supported him throughout medical school, working in Human Relations. From the beginning, Genie and Lynn knew they wanted a large family. They spent time in Boston and in Arizona before settling in Los Altos, California, welcoming children into their family along the way. They had six daughters and two sons.

Genie had an immense capacity to love people: her children, nieces and nephews, neighbors, and friends. No one escaped her loving embrace and comforting hugs. Her love for others was a natural extension of her love for Jesus Christ. She often impressed on her children how important it was that they love each other and reach out in love to those around them. She had a quick wit and an infectious laugh. Her marvelous sense of humor lightened others’ burdens. 

In 2002, Genie and Lynn had the privilege of returning to their beloved France for three years as mission leaders for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the France Paris Mission. They cherished this time with their missionaries and many friends and church members there. They deeply loved each missionary who served with them. 

Genie loved to read and learn. She regularly shared good books and articles. She loved the scriptures and found strength in writing down and memorizing verses that spoke to her. She encouraged her children, grandchildren, and missionaries to memorize verses of scripture that they could call to mind in a moment of need. One of her favorite verses that she often shared is found in 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the Spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

In April of this year, she was diagnosed with liver cancer. She was cared for by excellent doctors, nurses, and therapists. Through it all she maintained her humor, wit, and kindness. She passed away on August 22, 2026. She is survived by her husband, Lynn Bennion, and their eight children: Anne (Rodger), Jane, Rebecca (Michael), Peter (Nicole), Katherine (Bret), Samuel, Ruth (Paul), Rachel (Robert), and 18 grandchildren, as well as nieces and nephews, and countless others who she loved and adored. 

Funeral services will be held on Monday, August 31, 2026, at 1:00 pm at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1300 Grant Road, Los Altos CA 94024.

A video viewing link is available below for those unable to attend in person:

http://tiny.cc/la_funeral