Myrle Reeder Brightenburg

Our loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, Myrle Reeder Brightenburg, 81 passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at her home with her family surrounding her. She was born on Sunday, December 21, 1941 in Brigham City, Utah, the first of 7 children to Wallace V. and Opal Wight Reeder. She lived her entire life in Brigham City, graduating from Box Elder High School in 1960 and later attended and graduated from LDS Business College. Myrle married her sweetheart, Edwin Lee Brightenburg on October 14, 1960 in the Logan Temple. She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served faithfully in numerous callings as part of the 12th Ward. Myrle and Ed also served a three year service mission at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City. Besides raising 6 kids of her own and many who weren't, she had numerous varied careers including working at The Fabric Shop, Waitressing, Teachers Aid, Flying J Corporate Office , and most recently Box Elder County District Court. She was a wonderful wife and homemaker, an amazing mother, and a loving grandmother and great grandmother . Myrle was also a very skilled seamstress and her talents were sought after by many, for crafting prom dresses, wedding gowns, and beautiful quilts. She enjoyed square dancing and loved music, attending concerts whenever she could. Her loving nature extended to everyone she came in contact with and all were treated as if they were family which included people and the occasional cat. Myrle's favorite pastimes were growing flowers and evening walks with friends and family. The activity she loved most in recent years, was riding her blue bicycle through the neighborhoods of Brigham City. The family would like to thank Peggy and CNS Hospice for their loving care of Myrle, and her many doctors and nurses. Surviving are her husband, Ed; six children: Chris (Cindy) Brightenburg; Diane (Kurt) Quayle; Randall Mark (Kimberle) Brightenburg; Angela (Alan) Kallmeyer; Juli (Todd) Bainter; Misty Lee (Ken) Pendleton; 17 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. She is also survived by six siblings, Rex Reeder, Ellen Freeman, Joy Haws, Royce Reeder, LeAnn Gilbert and Stephen Reeder. She was preceded in death by her parents. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 28, 2023 at 1:00 pm at the Brigham City North Stake Center, 320 E 600 N. A viewing will be held prior to the services from 11:00 to 12:30 pm. Interment will be in the Brigham City Cemetery.

 

1941

Arvol Dale Smith

November 5, 1941 — October 18, 2023

Hooper 

Arvol Dale Smith, 81, who always introduced himself as Smitty, returned to his Heavenly Father on October 18th, 2023 surrounded by his loved ones. He was born November 5, 1941, to Arvol LaVere and Elsie Smith in Brigham City, Utah.

 

He was the oldest of four kids, raised in Brigham City, and they have remained close friends throughout their lives. Smitty took great pride in his childhood, spending it hunting, farming, and horseback riding. His father was his hero, and he spent his life striving to be as loving, caring, and strong as his father. From his mother he got his sense of humor.

 

Smitty valued education and loved learning, and was immensely proud to be the first member of his family to graduate from high school (Box Elder High School, ‘60) and college (Utah State University, ‘67). While attending Utah State University, he met the love of his life, Marilyn Felter. Smitty knew right away that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, and they were engaged three months later. They married on June 18, 1965 in the Logan Temple and made their first home in Brigham City, where they lived for ten years and had their first four children. Having earned a Bachelor of Arts in History Education, Smitty started teaching at Roy High School. After commuting for eight years, the family finally moved to Hooper in 1975, where they had three more children and still live.

 

Smitty taught history and other subjects, along with coaching wrestling and football at Roy High School for 30 years; he lived golden and bled black, cheering for the Royals long after he retired. Education was Smitty’s great passion, he loved working with students and always went above and beyond to help them. As a principal of the night school, he made sure young mothers and other disadvantaged students had the same educational opportunities. While working with a summer CETA program, he met a troubled young man who needed a second chance, and this is when Hank Fetler joined the family as their foster son.

 

Smitty worked hard to ensure his family had every opportunity and had many different side jobs, from roofing and sprinklers to door-to-door sales and the IRS. His infectious laughter and caring demeanor touched everyone he encountered, whether at the Roxy Theatre in Brigham City, Willard Bay State Park, or the Ogden Depot.

 

When he wasn’t working, Smitty loved to tend to his vegetable garden, spending many a joyful hour with his rototiller, and sharing his harvest with family and friends. But as he would have told you, he was happy doing anything, as long as his precious wife was by his side. Together they had many adventures camping, hiking, and sightseeing.

 

He was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served a two and-a-half year mission to Germany during the construction of the Berlin Wall. He never lost his love for all things German - language, food, people, culture, and food. He served the Church in many capacities through the years, including ward clerk, Sunday school teacher, young men’s leader, high priest leader, and, his favorite, the primary class he taught with his wife, Marilyn. He and Marilyn also served a mission for the Church at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.

 

Smitty’s kids, grandkids, and great grandkids were one of his great joys in life; he cherished any opportunity to spend time with them, and bragged about having spent a good portion of his retirement babysitting. As they got older, he always had time to cheer them on at their many sports and arts activities, even if it meant rooting against Roy High. He was immensely proud of the happiness and success of his family. 

 

Smitty is remembered by many for his smile, and for loving to make others laugh and smile, whether they were family and friends or a perfect stranger. He always had a dad joke ready to share. He passed his love of pranks, which he got from his own mother, to his kids and grandkids; there's always a risk of shenanigans at any family gathering, thanks to him!

 

Arvol is survived by his beautiful wife of 58 years, Marilyn; his seven amazing children: Kimberlee Endicott (Gene), Darci Roche, Mindy Smith (Chris Sojourner), Kara Auseré (Dave), Arvol Lee Smith, Allen Dale Smith (Emilio Casillas), and Don Charles Smith; 18 grandchildren, nine great grandchildren; and his siblings: DeAnn Meadows (Carl), Ron Smith (Bev), and DeOrr Smith (GayLynn). Beyond his family, Smitty leaves behind countless students whose lives he touched, and whose success always brought him pride.

 

Arvol was preceded in death by his parents, his foster son Hank C. Fetler, his grandson Nathan Kimber Endicott, his great granddaughter Chloe Ann Endicott, and many extended family members.

 

Our family is grateful for the loving care provided by Dr. Butler, Dr. Stinnett, Dr. Cortez and their staff, as well as Ogden Regional Hospital.

 

There will be a viewing on Sunday, October 22 at Lindquist’s Roy Mortuary, 3333 W. 5600 S. from 6-8:00 pm. The celebration of life will be Monday, October 23 at the Fremont Ward Chapel, 4979 S. 5100 W. Hooper at 11 am, with a viewing at 9:45.

 

Interment, Portage Cemetery.

 

Smitty requested that everyone wear bright colors or Roy High Gear (no ties or hats) while we celebrate his life and legacy. Have your best dad joke ready to share.

 

Joan Tingey Johnson of Provo, UT, beloved wife and mother, died September 30, 2023, passing beyond the clutches of dementia. She was 81 years old. Joan was born April 4, 1942, the oldest of three children, to Stuart Lorenzo and Elizabeth Palmer Tingey in Brigham City, UT.

Joan enjoyed a happy childhood playing amongst cousins from her father’s side of twelve siblings and her mother’s side of six. Her dad grew some of the best grapes and dark sweet cherries in the area. Joan graduated from Box Elder High School in 1960 with a diverse mix of friends brought into the Brigham area through Thiokol Corp. and the Intermountain Indian School.

In spring 1964 Joan graduated from Utah State University with a degree in Elementary Education. She was the first college graduate in her family. While at USU she met and later married Philip Brian Johnson on September 12, 1963 in the Logan Utah LDS Temple. They eventually had four daughters who were the joy of Joan’s life. Phil and Joan celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in September.

Phil’s work assignments took the family to Dutch John, UT; Fort Collins, CO; and North Ogden, UT. Joan taught second grade at Bates Elementary School in North Ogden, UT for over ten years and significantly influenced the lives of scores of children. Joan had an innate cheery temperament and abundance of talent. She liked to sew, quilt, draw, sing and most beloved of all play the violin, piano and organ. Music was her second language. The girls knew what kind of mood Joan was in by the songs she played. Her favorite callings in the LDS church were ward organist and Primary pianist. Joan’s crochet-edged receiving blankets have wrapped newborns far and wide.

Phil and Joan retired to Roosevelt, UT, then returned to Lehi to be near family. Joan is survived by: her husband; daughters Kari Ann Olsen, Syracuse, UT; Tonya Lee (Blake) Christensen, Lehi, UT; Staci Lyn (Lee) Moss, Orangeville, UT; Dana Rae (Larry) Bell, Ephraim, UT; ten wonderful grandchildren and one great-grandson; brother Palmer Tingey; sister Kathryn Tingey.

Mom, we could not have asked for better! In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to your favorite charity or institute of higher education. Graveside service will be held Saturday, October 7, 2023 at 1:00 PM in the Lehi City Cemetery, 1100 North 400 East.