October 20, 1940-November 4, 2009
At first meeting of my father-in-law you might be a little intimidated. He was a quiet man of large stature, which leaves you wanting to fill up the air time with words you know you are inevitably going to regret saying later. (I imagine that the boys who came to court his only daughter of seven children didn't have an easy go of it.) But as you come to know him you soon realize that everything he says is a joke. That he's just always teasing. Then you find that he is just a big teddy bear.
He tears up over hallmark commercials, has a total soft spot for little girls (especially the granddaughter type), he quietly helped people and was madly in love with his beautiful wife Sandy.
He was the quiet type of leader. He lead in his business and in his callings with a no nonsense kind of attitude. He didn't allow for all the pettiness. He was hard working (although his later years of golf twice a week didn't show that.) Working multiple jobs and long hours in the begining to get their company started. He was inventive and tried his hand at so many different inventions and businesses over the years. Thru his company he and Sandy were able to employ so many people through the years and they always tried to be fair and honest in their dealings with their employees. In the front hallway of their business he had the words printed "Achieving Success Through Honesty and Integrity." I think he truly embodied that statement.
I love this picture of him because I think that's how he would have liked to have been remembered. Sitting on a boat with a smile on his face.
Diagnosed with his second round of Cancer November 6, 2007, he and my MIL have shown such grace over the past two years. Through all the treatments, sickness, and pain they always came back with a positive attitude. Just last Friday while we were visiting him he spent most of his time teasing and telling jokes to get me and my kids to smile and be happy. I am so grateful to have had that simple moment watching him interact with my children with such love in his last days and hours. He was a wonderful husband to my MIL, father to my husband, and grandfather to my children. Even though we are grateful for his release from this mortal existence and pain; He will truly be missed. We love you, Dad.
IHC Hospital lit this tree in honor of my FIL because they were large donors to the hospital over the years. It's called the tree of health and life. Interestingly it is a bronze statue of a tree that was done by a local artist named Jerry Anderson, who is in my in-laws ward.
This was the kids last visit. We came to show Grandpa their Halloween Costumes. He thought Datan's eyes were hilarious, and kept joking with Datan about who could have been the on to give him his black eye. This day will always be remembered by me and hopefully Datan too. It was such a beautiful moment. Grandpa joked and laughed with Datan and was really alert. Then he gave Datan a big hug and told him how much he loved him. Datan stayed while I took the other two, out of control kids out in the hall. They talked for about 40 min. Just the two of them. It was a real blessing and I am so grateful as a parent that my son had that time. These other pictures are from another one of our better visits. I love his funny side shining through and I love the pictures of him playing dolls, they are so precious. His granddaughters held a special place in his heart , espcially my beautiful Moriella. Of Asher on our last visit grandpa said, "He has such a sweet spirit." Then he gave a little chuckle that he always gave when something made him happy.
