Standard-Examiner (Ogden, UT) - May 20, 2007 Deceased Name: Milton Gardner Widdison 1916 ~ 2007
Milton Gardner Widdison, beloved husband and family patriarch, died peacefully at home on May 12, 2007, at the age of 90.

Milt was born August 22, 1916, in Hooper, Utah, to James Gourley Widdison Jr. and Lillian Elnora Gardner Widdison.

He was the middle child of 11, with three sisters and two brothers older and three sisters and two brothers younger. Milt loved Hooper and was fiercely loyal to his family. He grew up on a farm and remembers being proficient at milking cows at the age of five. He told many stories of hauling hay, thinning sugar beets, and picking tomatoes, and he would have preferred to remain a farmer throughout his life had circumstances allowed it.

Milt graduated from Weber High School, attended BYU, and graduated from the University of Utah with bachelor's and mas-ter's degrees. He served in the Civilian Conservation Corp during the Great Depression, which was a great growing experience for him. Milt served in the Ger-man-Austrian mission from 1935 to 1938 and witnessed Hitler's rise to power prior to the second world war. He served as a chaplain during World War II and was at one time the youngest chaplain in the U.S. Army. During the War he served in Hawaii, Okinawa, and Korea.

On March 11, 1944, Milt married Ruth Sleight in the LDS Laie, Hawaii Temple-the beginning of 63 happy years together.

After the War Milt and Ruth lived in Georgetown, Idaho; Provo, Utah; and eventually settled in Salt Lake City. Milt tried his hand at being a merchant, carpenter, salesman, letter carrier, and teacher, but spent most of his career as a social worker, primarily at the Veterans' Hospital. He retired after 24 years there, but in his heart he was always a farmer. After Milt's active military duty he joined the Army Reserve and retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1976.

Milt and Ruth served together as missionaries in Mississippi in 1981, where many lasting friendships were created. Milt was proud of his pioneer ancestry and was an enthusiastic member and supporter of the Sons of the Utah Pioneers. He served faithfully throughout his life in the LDS Church and was a wonderful friend, neighbor, and home teacher. Milt and Ruth traveled extensively throughout the world, primarily visiting their children and grandchildren who were living overseas. Traveling provided them with truly wonderful and memorable experiences. Milt loved life and lived it to the fullest.

Milt is survived by his loving wife, Ruth, four children and their spouses: Leilani and Barry Rig-by (Jefferson, NY), Lyn and Hans Frhlich (Salt Lake), Gary and Colleen Widdison (Accra, Ghana), and Rick and Susan Widdison (Westminster, Colorado), 14 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, sisters Marie Beecher, Donna Draper, Ruth Dawson, and brother Don G. Widdison, all of Hooper, Utah, as well as many other loving family members and friends. He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Renae, as well as his parents and siblings, Vilate, Marion, Elbert, Howard, Margaret, and Arch.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, May 22, 2007, at 11 a.m. at the Canyon Rim 2nd Ward, 3000 East 3100 South, in Salt Lake City. Visitations will be held on Monday, May 21 from 6pm to 8pm at the Holbrook Mortuary, 3251 S. 2300 East, and at the church from 9:30 am to 10:45 am prior to the services. Interment will take place at 3 p.m. at the Hooper Cemetery.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.holbrookmortuary.com.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions to the LDS Church's Humanitarian Services or Perpetual Education Fund. Copyright (c) 2007, Standard-Examiner