3 first cousins serve as bishops in neighboring Othello, Washington, wards

The three cousins and bishops draw on their ancestors’ legacy of testimony and hard work

Published: Sept 14, 2026, 5:00 p.m. MDT

Three first cousins who are bishops at the same time in Othello, Washington, take a picture after church on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. — From left, Othello 1st Ward Bishop David K. Beus, Othello 2nd Ward Bishop E. Brian Gentry, and Othello 3rd Ward Bishop Scott J. Harris, all first cousins in the Othello Washington Stake, take a picture together in Othello, Washington, on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. Cynthia Gentry

In Othello, an agricultural city in central Washington, three bishops are serving in neighboring wards of the Othello Washington Stake who also happen to be first cousins.

Othello 3rd Ward Bishop Scott J. Harris was called in 2022, then Othello 1st Ward Bishop David K. Beus in 2023, then Othello 2nd Ward Bishop E. Brian Gentry in 2024.

Their parents are siblings and their grandparents are Evan and Alta Beus, who were pioneers in the farming community. But since they have different last names, the cousins don’t believe the stake president even knew they were related when he called them to be bishops.

View Comments

To read the full story, visit TheChurchNews.com.

Looking for comments?

Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.