Clair Bello

Clair Louis Bello died Saturday, November 26, 2011, at his home in Salt Lake City, Utah. Bud was born August 1, 1922 in Logan, Utah, to his parents, Chester Louis Bello and Mae Louise Burris. He was raised in Magna, Utah, on the family farm where he raised hogs and in 1937 his hog won the grand champion award at the Utah State Fair with a 500 pounder. The barn that he and his father built still stands on the old farm property to this day. Bud went on to graduate from Cyprus High School and attended Utah State University, studying animal husbandry and affiliating with the Sigma Chi fraternity. He played football as a quarterback for USU and also played on the basketball team. Between studies and sports, he dated Georgia Wahlin, and they married in the Salt Lake Temple on November 16, 1942. During the war, Bud was asked to provide beef for the military by running at 14,000 acre ranch on the AS&R property in the Oquirrh Mountains. He and his wife lived on the foothills near Coon Canyon, managing a herd of almost a thousand head. Bud became an accomplished cowboy, rider and veterinarian and had many successful years on the ranch. After the war, they remained on the ranch with a young family until a harsh winter killed much of the herd and a changing market meant it was time to get out of ranching. Moving to the east bench of Salt Lake City, Bud sold real estate, developed homes and was a store manager and salesman for Burton Lumber and Hardware until his retirement in 1987. Bud loved the construction business. He became good friend with most every builder in Utah. He was known for getting materials to any jobsite no matter what the circumstances and providing excellent service. Clair is survived by his sons, Ken Bello, Lynn Bello (Joanne), Dave Bello (Sue) of Boise, Idaho, his daughter Joanne Foster (Ken), daughter-in-law, Darlene Bello, Salt Lake City, and sister, Dorothy Johnson (Jack). He was preceded in death by his wife, Georgia, their oldest son, Clair Louis Bello, Jr., his parents and sister, Margaret Tobler, and brother, Dale Bello. He has 15 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 3, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. in the Foothill 7th Ward (2215 E. Roosevelt Ave.) Friends may call Friday at Russon Brothers Mortuary (255 S. 200 E.) from 6-8 p.m. and Saturday at the ward from 9:30 10:30a.m. prior to the service. Interment, Salt Lake City Cemetery. Online guestbook at www.russonmortuary.com