Leo LaVar Thalman, Jr.

Leo LaVar Thalman, Jr., passed away peacefully on January 10, 2023, at the age of 94 at home surrounded by his loving wife and family.

LaVar was born on February 29, 1928, in a log cabin in Woodrow, Utah, to Leo Levar and Henrietta Edith Biehler Thalman. Learning the value of hard work, he grew up in Vermillion, Sevier County, Utah, where his family were farmers and everyone worked and helped out on the farm. He attended grade school in Sigurd, Utah, and junior and high school in Richfield, Utah. He was very active in all sports – basketball, football, track and baseball – and graduated from Richfield High School in 1946.

LaVar joined the Navy on January 17, 1951, and served for 4 years during the Korean War as an Aircraft Mechanic. He was stationed in Alameda, California, and was sent to Korea, and spent 7 months on The USS Yorktown Aircraft Carrier.

LaVar met Marilyn Dowler while on leave in the summer and they were married on December 23, 1952, in Las Vegas, Nevada. They were blessed with 4 sons and 1 daughter. They lived several places in Utah before settling in Bountiful in 1961. They were happily married for 70 years. He was a great dad, neighbor and friend.

LaVar was a truck driver, driving for P.I.E. and Brinks. He enjoyed his career and, in his lifetime, he drove over 5 million miles.

He loved hunting, fishing, camping and golfing. After retiring, LaVar and Marilyn bought a 5th wheel trailer and started traveling. They spent 21 years in Blythe, California, in the winter where it was warmer, many summers at Fishlake, and traveling to see family.

LaVar was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He enjoyed many callings including working as a Temple Worker in the Bountiful Utah Temple, which he really loved.

LaVar leaves behind his wife Marilyn, children Randy (Jan) Thalman, Teresa (Rick) Redmon, Blaine Thalman, Glen (Carol) Thalman, and Mike Thalman; sixteen grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, brother Ron (Louann) Thalman, and sister Elaine Provancha. Preceding him in death were his parents, brother Harold Thalman, and sister Beth Wall.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, January 17, 2023, at the Bountiful 20th Ward, 102 East 1400 South, Bountiful, Utah. An evening viewing will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Monday, January 16, 2023, at Russon Mortuary, 295 N. Main Street, Bountiful. Another viewing will be held Tuesday from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the church prior to services. Interment: Bountiful City Cemetery.