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Show Volume XXIV Issue IX The Ogden Valley news Page 7 March 1, 2017 Announcements Obituaries Robert Brent Graham July 18, 1945 ~ February 14, 2017 Robert Brent Graham, 71, passed away February 14, 2017 surrounded by his loving family. He was born July 18, 1945 in Ogden, Utah to Robert Robert Graham Stanly and Doris Hope Graham. Brent married Dixie Pedersen June 12, 1969. They are the parents of three children— Robert, Brad, and Jami. He was a computer technician for Unisys for over 20 years. He was member of the Church of Jesus Christ of James D. Larsen April 18, 1937 ~ February 15, 2017 Jim was born in Salt Lake City, Utah to Don and Louise Larsen, with Ogden being home his entire life. A graduate of Ogden High School and an anxious student of Engineering at the Jamews Larsen University of Utah, Jim embarked on a wonderful career in manufacturing, first at the Ogden Iron Works Company and then as a primary of a start-up company in 1968, Kenway Engineering, pioneering amazing solutions within the Automated Material Handling Systems arena. Jim lead the efforts on one of the first successful computer controlled automated warehousing systems in the United States for the Ampex Corporation in the early 70s, and over the course of his adventurous career, developed key corporate accounts with global brands such as Kimberly Clark Corporation, Coco-Cola and Anheuser-Bush, but more importantly, life-long relationships built from honesty and integrity. Jim also held a patent as a co-inventor for an automated case picking system with applications in the beverage industry. Our dad, caring and genuine husband, and grandfather was always gently straight forward, humorous with a unique sense of dry wit, and held high expectations for all of us, because he William Earl Johnson February 1, 1922 ~ February 21, 2017 “Together Again” William Earl Johnson was born February 1, 1922 and passed away Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at the William Johnson age of 95. He married Ruth Genelle Jensen Johnson in December 1942, during World War II. Bill and Ruth celebrated their 74th Wedding Anniversary December 19, 2016. Ruth passed away six days later, on Christmas morning, at the age of 94—just 57 days before her beloved spouse. They were very much in love, as Bill grieved for the loss of his spouse all 57 days. Bill was born in Provo, Utah to Joseph Earl Johnson and Edna Elizabeth Mildenhall. He was the third of seven children—two brothers and four sisters—and is survived by one sister, Belva (Huntsville), and one sister-in-law, Colleen (Brigham City). He was raised in Provo, Utah, spending the first twenty years in the same neighborhood, and in the old LDS Pioneer Ward. However, his family was familiar with adversity, as they suffered nine evictions during the Great Depression of the 1930’s. Notwithstanding, his family was strong and united, and their life improved when his father gained steady employment as an accountant at Geneva Steel before the war. Bill graduated from Provo High, and met his eternal companion dancing on the tennis court with some girls from Brigham Young High. Their first kiss was on the eve of Pearl Harbor. Bill enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, training to become a pilot, and was stationed in Camden Arkansas. Ruth left her job in Provo, and came to visit, where they quickly decided to get married, right there in Camden, Arkansas on December 16, 1942. They were sealed in the Salt Lake LDS Temple August 30, 1943 during Bill’s first leave. Ruth stayed close to Bill as he advanced in pilot training. When he got to the larger planes, he could not land them due to a depth perception problem, and washed out. Very tense and uncertain days followed, waiting for his new assignment. The world was at war. He ultimately was assigned to bombardier training, where, because of his previous training and good test skills, aced every exam, and became the first instructor of a newly created bombardier flight school. Many of his students were lost in the war, but he avoided combat assignment until August 1945, when the war ended before he saw combat. Their first child, David (late wife Elsa), of Dallas, was born in July 1944 during the war, and their second child, Stephen (Tracy) of Ogden, was born in November 1946. Bill graduated from Brigham Young University in 1947, and received a Master’s degree in accounting from Northwestern in 1948. He worked for the Internal Revenue Service for two years in Chicago before transferring to Ogden, Utah, where he worked two more years for the IRS, closing five significant tax evasion cases, four of the guilty parties serving prison time. One defendant had a heart attack and died in the federal court room in Salt Lake City. Local CPA firm Jones and Atwood Latter-day Saints. He served in the Navy during the Vietnam War. Brent enjoyed gardening, doing puzzles, and spending time with his family and grandchildren. He also enjoyed traveling to his friend’s cabin at Hebgen Lake in Montana. Brent is survived by his loving wife Dixie; three children, Robert, Brad (Tami), and Jami; eight grandchildren; his brother David; and his sister Dona. He was preceded in death by his parents. Funeral services were held Saturday, February 18, 2017 at the Layton Utah Stake Center, 60 W. Gordon Ave. Interment, Eden Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at <www.lindquistmortuary.com> Norman Lavor Skanchy could see the best in us. His appreciation and connection to Lake Powell (the Pond) was beyond measure. A life of great trips swinging on the hook, countless bottles of Scotch, endless card games of ginrummy, several steaks at the bottom of lake, along with a few custom-made fishing poles and memories that will last for generations. Thank you. Thank you for the great life lessons, for your care, your sincere concern, your genuine humor, your smile, your advice, for being there when we needed you, for knowing what to say and when to listen. Thank you for being a great mentor, leader, friend, and our Captain. Jim was preceded in death by his father, Donald; his mother, Louise; and his twin sister Rebecca Louise. He is survived by his wife Frankie; his sister Kathleen Froerer (Buck); his children Michael James, Brook William (LaNeil), and Douglas Silver (Nikki); in addition, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. And, to the incredible Encompass Hospice team—Miller, Jim, and Dad’s special nurse and aide, Tami and Valerie, we thank you all for your comfort, love, and guidance during this most difficult time. Jim’s body has been donated to the University of Utah Donor program in order that he may continue to give and positively impact other lives. The family will appreciate donations to the University of Utah Body Donor Program and/or the Huntsman Cancer Center. The family will celebrate Jim’s life at a later date. May 7, 1926 ~ February 17, 2017 Norman Lavor Skanchy left this mortal existence with grace on February 17, 2017 after a normal, errandfilled day. He was 90 years old, still doing most of the Norman Skanchy things he loved: painting, writing and illustrating his poetry, going to athletic events, traveling, instructing Tai Chi, and visiting with people. We weren’t ready for his passing, nor was he, as he had a trip planned with family, a new car recently purchased, and a watercolor painting nearing completion. He enjoyed the blessings of a fulfilled and healthy life. Norman was born May 7, 1926 in Logan Utah, the son of Norwegian parents Carl Norman Skanchy and Addie Tarbett. The Skanchys owned several Logan neighborhood grocery stores and he spent his adolescent years with his two brothers and four sisters working in the stores, running errands, making deliveries, and stocking shelves. He graduated from Logan High School in 1944 and was inducted into the Marine Corps. He served with the 3rd and 1st Marine Divisions in the Pacific, seeing duty on Guam and in Beijing, China as a China Marine. At the outbreak of the Korean War he was called to active duty with the U.S. Army and at the war’s conclusion he joined the Army Reserve in the artillery and retired as a Lt. Colonel in 1986. Between the war years, Norman attended Utah State University where he met and married his wife of 64 years, Elma Marion Avondet. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art Education at Utah State and later received his Master’s of Art Education from Ohio State University. He devoted his career to art and art education, working as an art instructor in the Ogden City School District, and later as the Art Education Supervisor and the Director of Elementary Education for the District. He was an adjunct professor of art at Utah State University and Weber State University and was an Art Fellow at Ohio State University. He created and organized the District’s First Annual Festival of the Arts, the Art Core Project and created and directed the District’s television program for art education. He developed the Artist in Residence Program in Utah, bringing recognized his talents and hired him in December 1952, beginning his 33 years as a CPA in Ogden. He was especially skilled at representing clients against the IRS, and in municipal accounting. During those 33 years, he became the President of the Utah Association of CPA’s, Chairman of the Utah State Board of Accountancy, owned his own practice for most of those years with many faithful and appreciative employees, including his second son, Stephen, who purchased the practice in 1986. He also served as the President of Hospice of Northern Utah; Chairman of the Board Weber County Hospital; Treasure of the Lake Bonneville Council Boy Scouts of America, earning the Silver Beaver Award; Chairman of both Heart and Cancer Drives; Treasurer and Director of United Way of Northern Utah; and two terms as President of the Sons of Utah Pioneers (Northern Chapter); plus, two terms as Treasurer of SUP. The assignment he may have enjoyed most was Bishop of the Weber State College 4th Ward. His church assignments continued when he and Ruth served three fulltime missions to Nauvoo, the Philippines, and Temple Square. He served as a Sealer in the Manila and Ogden Temples. During the preceding years, Bill and Ruth were blessed with four additional children, plus the two already mentioned, David (late Elsa) of Dallas, Stephan (Tracy) of Ogden, Christine (late huband Christopher) of Huntsville, Thomas (Stephanie) of Cottonwood Heights, Benjamin (Lori) of Ogden, and Rebecca (Michael) of South Weber. Bill and Ruth have 35 grandchildren and 46 great-grandchildren. internationally known artists to Utah as part of the Exemplary Visual Arts Project. In 1989, Norman received the first annual Governor’s Award for Art Education from the Utah Art’s Council. He has shared his paintings, sculptures, and jewelry through gallery shows throughout the state. He was a gifted artist, sculptor, calligrapher and poet. He loved to compete in athletic events and played college football, boxing, figure skating and ice hockey. In his 60s and 70s he began competing in national racquetball tournaments with his partner Russ Carruth, and together they won the National Racquetball Championship in 1993. They competed individually and in doubles for over 20 years and were consistently nationally ranked in the top twenties as late as 2003 when they were ranked 19th. He loved to swim, boat, ice skate, snow ski, and fish. Elma tried to make him into a gentleman farmer, with limited success, as he broke numerous bones coming off his horse, but he loved his farm, the pond and its fish, the apple and pine trees, his gardens, and his dogs. He was content with Elma in Eden. He loved life and drank deeply from its well. He returned to China with Elma where he taught art and calligraphy, made friends and learned Tai Chi, which he taught up until the day before his passing. He loved his Church and always felt like the war had deprived him of the opportunity to serve as a missionary to Norway, where his grandfather, father, and one brother served. He served in many Church callings—in Young Men, Bishoprics and as a Bishop. He served with Elma in an Inner City Mission and worked in the temple as an ordinance worker and a sealer. He was serving as an assistant Ward Mission Leader at the time of his passing. He loved the Savior and understood the blessings of the Atonement. Norman now joins Elma, his father and mother, two brothers, and three sisters in a long-awaited reunion. He is survived by his sister Virginia Oshel; dear sisters-in-law Barbara Avondet, Linda Stoker, and Dori Wright; sons Randall (Sue) and Kelly (Heidi); and his devoted and caring daughters Patti (Peter) Van Aarle and Toni (Tom) Bray; along with 14 grandchildren, one great-grandson, and 13 great-granddaughters. Funeral Services were held Saturday, February 25, 2017 at the Nordic Valley Chapel, 2900 N. Hwy. 162, Eden, Utah. Condolences may be sent to the family at <www.lindquistmortuary.com> The family appreciates, and became close friends, with the staff and hospice at Mountain Ridge Assisted Living, who Bill thanked for taking care of him and Ruth, on his last day. Funeral services will be held Monday, February 27, 2017 at 11 a.m. at the Highland Ward, 1314 E. 27th St., Ogden, Utah. Interment, Ogden City Cemetery. Send condolences to the family at <www. lindquistmortuary.com> Please send your announcements & photos to: Ogden Valley news PO BOX 130, eden UT 84310 Announcements are placed free of charge. |