Dwight Williams

Teasdale, Utah – Dwight S Williams, age 96, of Teasdale, passed away on November 30, 2024, in Teasdale, Utah. He died at home in the house where he was born 96 years ago.

Dwight was born April 12, 1928, in Teasdale, Utah, to Gustavious and Duella Dance Williams. He was the youngest of 7 siblings, who he was very close to, having lost both his parents at a young age. Dwight spent his life on the ranch in Teasdale tending cows on the Boulder Mountain and “Down Below” on the desert. His knowledge of the plants, geology, and geography of the desert country was unparalleled. He knew every trail and every abandoned road. In 1947 he and his brothers and the rest of the “Blind Bridle Outfit” bought the Baker Ranch on Halls Creek, which is now under Lake Powell. He spent the next 75 years trailing cows to every water seep and through every canyon from Ticaboo to Starr Springs and then home to the Boulder Mountain.

He married and was sealed to Donna Carol Harward on August 30, 1957, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They made their home in Teasdale, Utah, moving into the Williams home built in 1882. Over the years Carol and Dwight remodeled, added, and beautified the historic home. Carol and Dwight were blessed with 5 children over the years. While children brought much happiness there was great sorrow, when their oldest child, Thomas, died from cancer at the age of 3.

Dwight’s life was a life of service. He served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Western States Mission from January 1949 to 1951, including a brief stint as Relief Society President in Tucumcari, New Mexico. He served as a counselor in the Bishopric of the Teasdale Ward in the late 1950s, beginning his service before he was married, then served as Bishop from 1964-1970, and again served as a counselor 40 years later in the 1990s. In between, he served on the High Council of the Loa Utah Stake, and as a counselor in the Stake Presidency. He was a dedicated home teacher and a neighbor to all. Dwight and Carol’s home was open to everyone. They had visitors from all over the world with all of them anxious to hear Dwight’s stories.

He graduated from Wayne High School in Bicknell, Utah in the Class of 1946. He served in the United States Air Force from May 1951 to May 1955 during the Korean conflict as a mechanic on the B-36 Bomber. He served as a Wayne County Commissioner (1972-1978), as vice-chair of the Six County Association of Governments, and on the boards of the Wayne County Water Conservancy District, the Teasdale Special Service District, the Teasdale Irrigation Company, and the Grover Irrigation Company. 

Dwight studied the gospel of Jesus Christ and had a deep knowledge of the scriptures and church government. He was a living textbook of the history of Wayne County, especially the history of livestock raising in the area. He was an amateur prospector, always picking up interesting rocks and looking for lost Spanish gold mines. He read extensively and especially enjoyed books about the American Southwest. His habit of reading continued up to the time of his death and it was only for the last couple of years that he needed reading glasses.

Dwight and Carol were the parents of 5 children: Thomas Dwight Williams (deceased); Gustavious Paul and Adrienne Breillatt Williams of Alpine, UT; David Royal and Suzie Cox Williams of West Jordan, UT; Donna Pauline Williams of Spanish Fork, UT; Jeffrey Mark and Rachelle Rees Williams of Teasdale, UT. They have 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, with one on the way. He is survived by his 4 children, their spouses, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

He was an honorary “Harward boy” and was beloved by his brothers-in-law Carvel, Ronald, Newell, Kendall, and Layne Harward and their wives. He was especially close to his Williams nieces and nephews who all loved to visit Uncle Dwight. 

He is preceded in death by his wife Carol Williams, who died March 20, 2024; their son: Thomas Dwight Williams; his parents: Gustavious and Duella Dance Williams; his siblings: Orawell and Vonda Williams, Dyle and Ludeal Williams, Marva and Alfred Baker, Ardis and Reed Smith, Bryce Williams, and Reed and Elnora Williams 

The family wishes to express their thanks to the staff at Stonehenge of Richfield, Monroe Canyon Assisted Living, and Gunnison and Zions home health and hospice for their kindness and tender care of our dad for the past year. We also want to thank the numerous family and friends who called and visited him consistently over the past few years.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 14, 2024, at 1:00 P.M. in the Torrey LDS Ward Chapel, where friends and family may call for a viewing Saturday morning from 10:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. prior to the services.

Live streaming of the services can be found at www.springerturner.com under Dwight’s obituary about 15 minutes before starting time.

Burial with military honors accorded by the Harold Brown American Legion Post #92 and the United States Air Force Honor Guard will be in the Teasdale Cemetery under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield and Salina, Utah.