Donald DeMill, 89, the greatest man we know, was granted his wish 8/23/16 as his time on earth came to a close and he slipped quietly away from us into the arms of the Savior who surely greeted this humble man saying, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." Waiting for him there since New Year's Day is our mom Voniel Ivory, the person he called "my bride" and whose hand he held for 66 years. The parents he honored, Hannah Elsie Nielsen and Edwin DeMill, and the six siblings he loved have waited much longer to see their son and brother again. Beloved sisters- and brothers-in-law on both his and Mom's side of our family, as well as a wonderful grandson also preceded Dad in death.
Dad was born in Clarion, Utah July 24, 1927. His family moved to Manti in 1932 where he spent his growing up years and where his heart has always lived. The family's adobe home was built by DeMill grandparents in the 1870s. His paternal great great grandfather Joseph Knight was a close friend of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Don respected all of his pioneer ancestors. His own mother lost her father when she was just 10 and, as second to oldest of seven, she helped her mother who took in washing using creek water, lye soap and open fires. Hearing these and other stories of his ancestors could easily move Dad to tears.
Don and his younger sister Janet were the last of the seven kids and they played as children and were devoted to each other as adults. Dad made many life-long friends in Manti. His closest friend is Morris Squire who remembers the color of the horse pulling the wagon of belongings when the DeMills first arrived in town. Dad's sweet sister Dorthella and her family lived next door. Her son Ray was 8 years younger than Dad. Ray and Don grew up to look and feel like brothers, and Ray and his wife Beverly did many loving things for Dad over the years.
As a boy of 11, Don was thrilled to be invited by his Uncle Milt Anderson (Ray's Dad) to be cook at the sheep camp. The time Don spent on the mountain with the men was golden to him. It was the basis for his forever love of the Manti-LaSalle Mountains, reservoirs and trails. When his father died Don was 15 and at the sheep camp. After the funeral he promised his mother not to return to that life and he and his sister took jobs and helped their mother. Dad's formal education ended then and his classroom became the wide open sky and all it contained. Don was an avid reader his whole life and was often seen engrossed in a book.
Don was a real cowboy who was paid by many in town to break their wild horses. He saved money made working at the Sugar Factory and purchased his own horse and later a Ford V-8 when he was barely 15. Don was 14 when World War II started and he wanted to enlist but was first too young and later health problems prevented him. He was proud of brothers and friends who fought.
Mom and Dad met and fell hard for each other at a dance in Moroni in December of 1948. They married soon after and started their family. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple in 1959. Although Dad once told Mom he primarily thought of horses while at work, we know he loved his family most of all. He loved each child, grandchild and great grandchild from the moment they were born, and every in-law from the moment he met them. With babies, Don's face would light up and his work-worn hands were gentle when he held them and looked deep into these precious faces. Don's children who adore him are: Sherry (Brent) Waddingham, Terrie (Milan) Buhler, Ted (Susan) DeMill, Jack (Rosann) DeMill, and Troy (Susannah) DeMill. Don also has 14 grandchildren with 9 spouses and 17 great grandchildren. He also loves and appreciates his many nieces and nephews.
Dad's mother- and father-in-law, Faye Blain and Stanley Ivory, thought Dad could do no wrong. Stan helped Dad get started as a carpenter when he and Mom moved to Salt Lake. Don could drive a nail into a board with one stroke and he worked 56-hour weeks with no paid leave. Yet, every single day when he came through the back door from work he had a smile on his face and we knew the party was about to begin!
As kids, we had wonderful vacations and great gifts for Christmases and birthdays. Sherry and Terrie went with parents, grandparents, and Mom's sister Carol and brother Winn to Disneyland the year it opened in 1955. Mom and Dad made us feel secure and happy with what we had. We visited Grandma Hannah in the adobe home in Manti many times from 1950 to 1963 before she finally closed the house and moved to Salt Lake. As young kids, when Dad let us walk to the candy store or up to Manti's Main Street, he would say, "If you see anyone, tell them you are Don DeMill's kids." We proudly did that because everyone knew and loved Don DeMill.
In 1973 Dad purchased his family's historic home from Sanpete County and found time to save the historic adobe part and tear off the old back section replacing it with a larger addition he built himself. As the youngest child, Troy often helped with this. While the actual adobe and wiring in the old part of the house might make us a little nervous, the home is a monument to our pioneers and to Dad's solid and true carpentry skills.
Dad loved sharing his home and favorite mountain places in and around Sanpete County with children and grandchildren. Many sweet times were spent at Ferron Reservoir. Grandchildren appreciate the friendships they share with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins that exist because of time spent together in Sanpete.
Dad took care of Arabian horses for his boss and in return was given a great beauty of his own he named Lad. Don trained his horse well. Dad often took Lad to Manti to ride with his boyhood friends. Closer to home Don rode with his son Jack and others.
Dad was a life-long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Dad liked to work quietly in the background. He always volunteered when help was needed from his young days in the beet fields to all areas of Welfare Square until at 84 years of age when the apples started moving too fast for him in the Cannery. Don loved his ward family in the Grant Third Ward, later reorganized and called Forestview Ward. Dad, we know your faith in the Lord never wavered. Your service to others knew no bounds.
After retiring from carpentry, Dad often said his favorite job was working for oldest son Ted's company, Interwest Supply, where people referred to Don as Iron Man.
To know him is to love him. We will never forget you Dad. Thanks for being the best listener any of us ever knew. Thanks for always showing up at our back doors five minutes after we called to ask for a little help whenever you had time. Thanks for thinking we were better than we are-for loving us so much.
Don is also survived by others he loved and laughed with and in whose company he loved to be: sister-in-laws Karen Ivory, Denise Ivory, and Carol Ivory Archuleta along with brother-in-law James Archuleta.
The family wishes to thank Dr. King Udall for his great kindness and care of Don for many years. We love and thank the entire staff of Sunrise for your tender care of our sweet Dad. We appreciate the great service of John Wayne Williams and that of Solstice Hospice. Dad loved his many friends on McClelland Street and we thank them for their love and service to Mom and Dad over the years.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, August 30, 2016, at 11:00 at the Forestview Ward, 1111 East Charlton (2818 S). Friends and family are invited to visit Monday evening 6:00-8:00 pm at the Holbrook Mortuary, 3251 South 2300 East, and at the church Tuesday morning 9:30-10:30 am prior to the service. Burial will be at the Murray City Cemetery.

Guestbook to post messages and tributes for the family is available at: www.HolbrookMortuary.com

Published in Deseret News on Aug. 28, 2016