Funeral services for Rand Merritt will be held on Saturday Feb 7, 2004 at noon in the Bedford LDS Church.
A viewing and meeting with family has been scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m. prior to the funeral service.

Merritt, Rand (1) (b 7 Feb 2004)Star Valley Independent

Rand T. Merritt 74, passed away Feb 4, 2004 at his home in Turnerville. His funeral service was held Feb 7, 2004, at the Bedford LDS church.
Rand was born April 18, 1929 in Turnerville, to Amelia Turner Merritt and Samuel Ulrich Merritt. He was the second in a family of seven, having four brothers and two sisters. He grew up in the Bedford-Turnerville area.
Rand married jean Haderlie in the Idaho Falls Temple on June 2, 1948. Because of work, military service and school, they moved 27 times in their first 12 years of marriage.
Rand proudly served in the military from 1949 to 1952 stationed at the army base in Fort Campbell Ky. He had a strong love of this country and he was grateful for the freedoms we enjoy He was always very patriotic and supportive of those serving in the military.
Rand graduated with his BS degree from Ricks College and then continued his education at USU in Logan and U of U in Salt Lake, receiving his Masters degree. For a couple of years he would teach school in Star Valley and then attend college during the summer. He started teaching school full time at the Star Valley Jr High in the fall of 1959, the same year his oldest child started kindergarten. He retired after 32 years of teaching in the spring of 1989. the year his youngest child graduated from college.
Rand loved the outdoors. He was happy when he had a fishing pole in his hand and was in the mountains. He served many years with the Forest Service working up Greys River in the summers. He treasured that time and the chance it gave him to be out and enjoying the beauty of our valley.
Rand was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He had a strong testimony of Jesus Christ and the knowledge that families can be together forever. He had many callings in the church for which he served faithfully and blessed the lives of many.
Rand is survived by his wife of 55 years, Jean Haderlie Merritt. Five children; Valdise Rand Merritt of Rigby, Idaho; Debra Jean Beesley of Decatur Ala; Kitric H. Merritt of Kingman Ariz; DeLon Merritt of Bedford, and TikiJo Merritt of Turnerville. Three daughters-in-law, one son-in-law, 14 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren; two sisters; Roma and Libbie and three brothers: Zen, Leon and Hal.
He is preceded in death by his parents, one brother, and his grandparents.

Merritt, Rand T (2) (4 Feb 2004)Star Valley Independent

Parents: Samuel Ulrich Merritt & Amelia Turner