Dee O. Tolman

Dee Orville Tolman, passed away on May 8, 2017 with Alzheimer's disease. Dee, "avid treasure (junk) collector", was born November 30, 1943, to his parents Orville Hunt and Mary Esther Tolman. He grew up in Bell, Huntington Park, and Maywood, California. He lived a life of service, love, and humility. He served a two and a half year LDS mission in the Chilean Mission. He loved speaking Spanish and used it until the very end.  After his mission, he attended BYU and then went on to a two year military stent in the US Army. While serving in Lawton, Oklahoma, he met his bride to be, Sergeant Penny Higgins, from Munster, Indiana. They were married in the Fort Sill Chapel on November 10, 1967. They had their first child, Christopher Hunt Tolman, there.  After being discharged, they moved to Huntington Park, California, where they were sealed in the Los Angeles Temple  in March of 1969. They had their second baby, Kelly Dee (Jensen), in June of 1969. That same year, Dee began his law enforcement career with Huntington Park Police Department. After moving to Walnut Park, California, their daughter Jill Dawn (Stirling) was born in 1972 followed by their daughter Ann Pauline in 1974 who passed away. They then settled in Whittier, California, to raise their family, and Dee lateraled to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office. He worked in the jails, Firestone District, and as a detective in forgery fraud. He retired from the Sheriff’s Department and later worked for the Orange County court system. In the year 2000 they retired and moved from California to Samaria, Idaho where they lived for seventeen years. In January of this year they moved to Farmington, Utah to be closer to family.  As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, he served in various capacities including home teacher, Elders Quorum President, Ward Mission Leader, Primary teacher, Sunday School teacher, counselor in the Bishopric, and Bishop. He was adored by so many including his ward members who he faithfully served and loved immensely. He also cherished the youth and elderly and had a giving and caring heart for the widows of the world. Finally, he had a special relationship with each of his 13 grandchildren and many "adopted" grandchildren. He knew each one of them even through his advanced Alzheimer's disease. 

He is preceded in death by his baby daughter Ann Pauline, his parents, and his sisters Debbie Stark and Marilyn Nelson. He is survived by his loving wife Paula (Penny) Jean Higgins Tolman; his son Chris (Nancy) Tolman; his daughters Kelly (Aaron) Jensen and Jill (Scott) Stirling; his brother-in-law Lee Nelson; his sisters Ina (Eldon) Thompson, Dena (Todd) Hillman, and Karen (Jim deceased) Barton; his brothers Byon (Karen) Tolman and Mark (Tammy deceased) Tolman. The loves of his life after his wife are his grandchildren: Jacob (Kaylee) Tolman, Kara (Noe) Zapata, Katelyn (Harrison) Huie, Joshua (Caitlyn) Jensen, Savannah (Zak) Niemann, Kellianne Stirling, Emily Jensen, Kimberly Tolman, Benjamin Jensen, Jadie Stirling, Aubrey Jensen, Nickolas Stirling, and Abbie Jensen. His two sweet great grandchildren arrived in fall 2016: Duke Tolman and Harper Niemann. 

Funeral services will be held at the Farmington Utah 9th ward, 695 South 200 East, Farmington, Utah, on May, 13 2017, at 1 pm.  The viewing will be held the same day from 11:00 am-12:30 pm. Interment will be at the Farmington Cemetery following the funeral services. Russon Brothers Mortuary in Farmington is handling all funeral arrangements.