Don West "Gramps"

Our loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend died March 31, 2019 in Bountiful, Utah. Dad was born September 15, 1929 in Provo, Utah to Eliza Hadfield West and Edward Lee West; he was the fifth of six children. Dad had an eventful childhood. His family did not have a lot of monetary possessions so Dad learned to create his own entertainment. Through these adventures, he developed lifelong friendships with his buddies. Dad stayed in contact with those men monthly until about two years ago. Dad graduated from Provo High in 1948. School was not easy for him, or so he said; that may have been because he was goofing around instead of listening. After high school, Dad attended the University of Utah for one quarter before going on his mission. We teased him about that a lot because he was BYU’s most devoted and biggest fan. As his grandchildren and their spouses graduated from the U, Dad became more accepting of the school. Dad ended up going to BYU after he attended the U. Dad attended BYU for a year and a half before serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the West Central States from 1949-1951. Dad was drafted into the Army in 1953; he served in the Korean war for 17 months. As a result, Dad was able to finish his college education through the GI Bill. Dad enrolled at Brigham Young University again and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in micro bacteriology and chemistry in 1958. He later went to the University of Michigan and graduated with a master’s degree in public health in 1965. He had several jobs in health education but retired from The Utah Services for the Blind and Visually impaired in 2000. Dad always talked to his family about the value of education. When we were having struggles in school, he told us to stick with it because he had and he knew that we could do the same. He consistently recounted how getting a master’s degree was one of the best choices he ever made.

His later undergraduate and graduate school years were quite enjoyable after he met the love of his life, Norma Joy Robison, in 1955. They dated for a whole month and were married three months later on June 3, 1955 in the Manti Temple. They were devoted parents to five children and later wonderful grandparents to 15 grandchildren. Norma’s life ended in January 1990 after a battle with ALS. Dad and Norma’s older grandchildren remember spending time with Grandma and Grandpa; we had sleepovers with cousins, we went out to dinner, and we got to spend time with two of the greatest people who loved us as their own children. Norma passed away before her great-grandchildren came along; Dad loved those great-grandchildren as much as he did his own children; maybe even a little more than that.

Dad loved everyone; his later years were sometimes lonely without Norma. He relied on his family a lot. Gramps was always ready to have a family party to watch a BYU football game, to celebrate a holiday, or to just get together for Sunday dinner. During these family events, we came to understand and love him even more. He became the man he was because he grew up without a lot, he went to college, he served in the Army, he remained a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and he married his best friend. Dad did not let a moment to teach pass him by; his lectures to us were founded in these significant events from his life. He left his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren with many lessons about the value of education, hard work, the gospel, and family. He had a deep and unwavering testimony of the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; those principles guided his life and those of his children. Dad had several callings throughout his life including serving as bishop and a member of the stake presidency. In his later years, Dad spent a lot of time in the temple; he loved being there and at one point he was a worker in the Bountiful Temple. Dad consistently taught us that the Lord loves us and He has a plan for us; he was still imparting this wisdom last week. Dad served anyone and everyone around him–the gospel was a literal guiding force in his life. We always knew Dad would be at church on Sunday and he kept going up to the time he passed away. It is only fitting that he passed away on a Sunday; Dad loved Sundays and the gospel more than he could adequately express in words.

Because of his genuine love for people, he made each one of us feel like the most important person around him. He spent his last two years at Legacy Assisted Living Center in Bountiful. Dad loved interacting with the residents and staff; Dad knew everyone’s name and he was a true friend. Dad was genuinely interested and concerned about each child, grandchild, great-grandchild and loved hearing about what we were doing. Throughout his life, he attended countless graduations, sporting events, concerts, baptisms, and ordinations; if it was important to one of us, it was important to him. He did everything he could to support us. Even in his later years when walking and traveling became harder, he mustered up the strength to spend time with his family. Consequently, he developed deep and loving relationships with each grandchild and great-grandchild he interacted with; some of us literally saw him several times a month throughout our entire lives. The grandchildren he leaves behind are deeply saddened because Gramps has been there for each milestone of our lives; he won’t be around physically anymore; that will take some getting used to. Dad loved his family intensely–family was his greatest treasure.

We know that Dad had treasured reunions on the other side as he met with many immediate family members; we take great comfort in knowing that he is happy because of this reuniting. Dad is preceded in death by his parents, Eliza Hadfield and Edward Lee West; his brother Edward Leon West; his sisters Gladys West (Bond) Denhalter; Faye (Victor) Guercio; Helen (Norman) Cardall; and Carol (Ray) Jones. He is also preceded in death by his wife, Norma Joy Robison and a son-in-law, Scott Eccles Thomas. Dad is survived by his children Michele Thomas of American Fork, Utah; Joseph Kevin (Susan) West of Boise, Idaho; Stacie (Karl) Stone of Bountiful, Utah; Kelli (Michael) Allen of Dubai, UAE, and Dayne (Pola) West of Layton, Utah. He also leaves behind 15 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren with one on the way in September.

It is with the faith Dad showed us, his deep devotion to the gospel, and Dad’s optimistic outlook on life that we will be comforted as we say goodbye for now; we know that we will see Gramps again and we will have a party. We love you more than we can adequately express in words, Gramps!

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, April 5, 2019, at the Bountiful 20th Ward Building, 102 E 1400 S, Bountiful. A viewing will be held Thursday, April 4 from 6-7:30 p.m. or Friday, April 5 from 9:30 to 10:30 in the same building. In lieu of flowers, please donate to ALS research at  http://www.alsa.org.