Donald (Don) Franklin Gold

Donald (Don) Franklin Gold passed away on October 10, 2022, at the age of 97. He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, March 14, 1925, to Helaman Mosiah Gold and Maria (Marie) Magdalene Plewe. His mother died when he was two-and-a-half, after which he was raised by his second mother, Louise Sailer.  
Don served in the Army Air Force modifying aircraft during WWII. Following the war, he served a mission in Brazil from 1946 to 1948 for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At that time, Brazil was all one mission, and his group was one of the first to be assigned there after the war.
In chemistry class at South High School, he met Clara McMurray. They courted through letters for five years, and after he returned from Brazil, they were married on December 17, 1948, in the Salt Lake Temple. He then attended the University of Utah, where he earned a bachelor's degree in political science and completed a year of law school. His true aspiration, however, was to be a farmer not a lawyer, so when the opportunity arose, he founded Pineae Greenhouses with three of his brothers. In doing so, he fulfilled his dream, becoming what he referred to as a "high tech" farmer. 
Don will be especially remembered for his ability to see the good in people, his desire to serve, and his optimism. He chose to approach challenges as opportunities and considered the whole of his life to be a "spiritual high adventure." He enjoyed home teaching and fulfilling his many responsibilities in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including those as a stake missionary, bishop, gospel doctrine instructor, scout master, Temple Square supervisor, and Bountiful temple worker. Of these callings, scout master was probably his favorite. In fact, when he was a bishop, he considered making himself scout master just before his release. Indeed, he treasured his association with the young men, and his summer scout camp legacy has been carried on by his sons and grandsons.
Don and Clara raised their family of five children in homes adjacent to greenhouses, first in Bountiful and then in Centerville, Utah. He is survived by his children Diana (Tad) Hess of Spanish Fork, Utah; Brian (Ellen) of West Haven, Utah (currently serving a mission in Omaha, Nebraska); Mark (Holly) of Farmington, Utah; John (Becky) of Centerville, Utah; and Keith (Andrea) of Farmington, Utah. He and Clara have 15 grandchildren and 46 great-grandchildren.
Clara passed away in 1994, after which Don married Kathleen Anderson Gee on June 21, 1997. Don and Kathleen served together in the New York, New York North mission, where they enjoyed working with the missionaries and members of the Harlem branch. With this marriage, Don added more cherished family members: Michael (Linda) Gee of Bountiful, Utah; Kristen (David) Fowers of Bountiful, Utah; Tyler Gee of Centerville, Utah; Patrick (Bonnie) Gee of Apison, Tennessee; Alan (Suzanne) Gee of Centerville, Utah; and 23 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Don fondly observed that he had been blessed with two mothers, two wives, and two families. 
Don was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Clara; four brothers, Lawrence, Glenn, Leslie, Merrold Gold; a twin sister, Lucille Gold McKay; and four half siblings, Margaret Gold Waken and John, Robert, and David Gold.
Funeral Services will be held Saturday, October 15, 2022, at 11:00 a.m., in the Mueller Park 4th Ward building, 1320 East 1975 S., Bountiful, Utah. A viewing will be held Friday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Russon Mortuary, 295 North Main St., Bountiful, and on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. prior to the services at the church.
Interment will be in the Centerville City Cemetery.
We wish to thank Legacy House at Park Lane's staff, nurses, and aides, and especially Donette Hurst, Dan Davis and Simon Kopisch from Inspiration Hospice for their tender care through the last few months.
In lieu of flowers, Don asked that donations be made to the missionary fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Services will be streamed by the ward on Zoom at this link: https://zoom.us/j/95275070736

Services will also be streamed live on the Russon Brothers Mortuary Facebook page and on this obituary page.  The live stream will begin about 10-15 minutes prior to the service and will be posted below.