John Boyd Bergum, Sr.

Joseph, Utah - John Boyd Bergum, Sr. age 88, beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 22, 2006 at the home of his son, with his sweetheart by his side and surrounded by his family. He was born October 11, 1917 in Phoenix, Arizona, a son of John Baptist and Salena Beatrice Williams Bergum. John grew up in Arizona and graduated from Coolidge High School. He attended Tempe University in Tempe, Arizona. He loved fishing and hunting. He was an excellent carpenter and mechanic. He married Ester Lois Marie Cunningham , September 17, 1946 in the Lordsburg, New Mexico. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Manti LDS Temple August 26, 1967 and they were sealed as a family in April 1968. They would have celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary this September. He was a veteran of World War II where he served in the Air Force as an aircraft mechanic. After the war, he and his sweetheart, Lois, lived in Coolidge, Arizona where he worked for the civil service as a postman and firefighter at Williams Field Air Force Base until he retired. He and Lois owned and operated a bakery and second-hand store in Coolidge, where they raised their family. In 1965 they moved to Joseph, Utah, with their family, where they joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is where John’s passion for missionary work and genealogy began. John and Lois served three proselyting missions away from home and three missions in Sevier County. John was happiest when he was serving the Lord. He served as ward clerk, teacher, temple worker, and Bishop of the Joseph Ward. John was committed to missionary work and wherever he went, he was ready to teach the gospel. John is loved, respected and appreciated for his honesty, dedication and unconditional love for everyone. The grandchildren and great-grandchildren will especially miss their “grandpa”. He knew how to have fun with them. John is survived by his wife, Lois; children: Yvonne Dyal of Joseph; Nancy Dexter of Salina; Cindy and Richard Morrey of South Jordan; John Jr. and Zoe Ann Bergum of Austin; daughter-in-law: Ada Culwell of Coolidge, AZ; 25 grandchildren; 50 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; 1 brother, Bill Bergum of Ventura, California. He was preceded in death by a son, Glen Oris Wilkerson; son-in-law: Wilford Dyal; and 2 grandchildren: Melody Rose Dexter and Andrea Zoe Bergum. Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 28, 2006 at 12 Noon in the Joseph LDS Ward Chapel in Elsinore, Utah. Friends may call for viewing at the ward chapel in Elsinore Saturday morning from 10:30 to 11:30 prior the services. Burial with military honors accorded by the Elsinore American Legion Post #75 will be in the Joseph Cemetery under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield, Salina and Gunnison, Utah.