Rodney Dale Jackson

Rodney Dale Jackson passed away at the age of 91, on May 2, 2017 at 4:50 am in an assisted living center located in Bountiful, Utah.  His passing at this time of the morning would have not been out of the ordinary as this was the time he would wake up and milk the cows.  One may assume he was called to his heavenly home to assist in the milking of the cows on the other side at that time.
Rodney Dale Jackson was born to Charles William Jackson and Fern Adams on the 24th of May 1925 at the home of his grandfather John L. Adams, in Pleasant Grove, Utah, the sixth child in the family. After his parents' divorce the children lived with their mother, Fern, at Grandfather Adams's home- His mother then married John Turner.   Fern passed away on March 20, 1931, after giving birth to a baby girl, Betty Turner, His father died on 26 January 1926 following an appendicitis operation at the St. Marks Hospital in Salt Lake City. After his mother's death Uncle Ben and Aunt Margaret Adams kept him for a while, when he was seven years old he was taken by Othello and Ethel Roundy and raised as part of their family, at Alta, Utah.  
 Rodney has many fond memories of his experiences there. The Roundy's ran the post office, and the people at Christmas time, would come to the Post Office for money orders to send for their Christmas gifts by mail order catalog, then when they came they would ask the Roundy's to keep them until Christmas, which was of interest to a curious boy. In the summer time he would often catch the mail truck and ride to Mammoth Creek and fish until the mail truck came back, when he would ride back home.
The George Heaton Family lived nearby, and Rodney spent much time with the Heaton children, where he was taken in, loved, taught, and spanked, as one of their own. Because they had a bath tub with hot and cold water he even took his Saturday night baths there. He helped the Heatons milk cows and herd sheep, walked to grade school with the children and rode the bus to Orderville High School with them, (Later he named his own second son after George Heaton's son Burke,) Part of Rodney's regular chore jobs was cleaning the coal oil lamps, taking out the ashes and soot from the stoves, and carrying water from the barn to the house. Rodney's Bishop in Alton was Harold Heaton, who baptized him and confirmed him a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and took a friendly interest in him.
He regularly attended church and learned basic moral values in this community which strengthened him in trying times later, He was ordained an Elder before he went into the service, at age 18, and was promised that he would be safe if he would live as he should.
 Rodney went into the Navy, 21 September 1943 and served on aircraft carriers. His basic training was at Farragutt, Idaho, then went to Bremerton, Washington for gunnery training. He shipped out at Astoria, Oregon, and was at every port along the California coast, and to Hawaii, Guam, Solomon Islands, Pango pango  and the Phillipines. His ship was hit twice by Japanese suicide aircraft and several of the crew were killed. One fellow was hit who had just replaced Rodney at his post. After the war was over their ship went through the Panama Canal, then to Virginia and to Boston. In Boston he received Word of the passing of his foster mother, Ethel Roundy, but he was unable to attend the funeral. He was released from the service March 1946 near San Francisco.
After his return he visited with friends and family then moved to Star Valley, Wyoming with his brother Berniel and family, and Worked for Royal Preston, a rancher. As his older brothers, LaVard and Wayne were foster sons of Herman and Marian Fluckiger, he was a frequent visitor at the Fluckiger home.
He took a romantic interest in Marjorie Fluckiger. They were married in the Idaho Falls Temple, 23 April 1948, with her sister Grace Ellen and LaMar Merritt being married the same day. They finished a little building which had been started on the Fluckiger farm, and lived there and helped there, taking other employment as he could. They bought the Jack Tittensor home and land in Bedford community, which burned down when Gaylen was a baby, and he barely missed being caught in the flames.
They struggled together to meet the financial stresses and to rebuild their home. 'R' Dale, their oldest son, was born 3 March 1952 when they lived in Osmond, working for Uncle Jim Gomm in the saw mill. Their second son, Burke 'A' was born 17 April 1954 while he worked for Royal Preston on his ranch. Kevin, born 21 September 1955, and Gaylen, born 16 October 1958, came while he was driving the school bus for Star Valley School District; Darren was born the 11th of April 1965 when he was working at the Swiss Cheese Factory in Thayne, and where he worked until he moved his family to Utah in August 1969 after divorce had broken their marriage,
Rodney married Joann Godfrey Green on 11 August 1969, and settled their families in a comfortable home with four acres in Centerville, Utah. With Rodney's family of 5 and Joann's family of 10 their house was full.
Rodney worked for Associated Food Stores in Salt Lake City, UT.  Then he purchased a transportation company, Delivery Service and Transfer Company, and with a business also on the side of his own in Carpet cleaning.   

Rodney has served in the church as a dance director, Explorer leader, assistant scout master, Assistant to the Sunday School President, home teacher, nursery workers.  Rodney and Joann served a mission together in the Chicago Illinois Mission and served also in the Salt Lake City Temple and Bountiful, Utah Temples He was busy in church activity and states: "I have a strong testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and I know we have a true prophet of God, Spencer W. Kimball, leading us. I am thankful for the commandments the Lord has given to guide us, as I have found in keeping them I have peace in my heart and bounteous blessings.
We will miss the anchor of our family who unselfishly gave of his time, money, and love to all.  In his passing while his spirit left his mortal body these words whispered into my soul the following:
For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.  Timothy 4:6-7
Until we meet again, and we WILL meet again, stand proud Dad and welcome us all home when it is our individual time to return.  Receive us with your open arms and share again that love you gave us while on earth.
The viewing will be held at the Russon Brothers Mortuary, 295 North Main, Bountiful, UT from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Friday May 12th. 2017.  Funeral services will be held at the Brookhurst Ward Chapel, 1298 North 400 West, Centerville, UT at 11:00 am on May 13th, 2017, where a viewing will be held beginning at 9:45 am until 10:45 am, prior to the funeral services.
The burial will be held on Monday May 15th, 2017 at 2:00 pm at the Bedford Cemetery located in Bedford, Wyoming.