Our beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, and friend passed peacefully through the veil on September 22, 2022, at the age of 99. He suffered a steady decline due to dementia but was true to his faith until the end. He shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with all who would hear.
He was born on April 12, 1923, the seventh of 9 children born to Albert Francis and Almira Tiffany Bethers. He was blessed to grow up on their farm in the mouth of Daniel's Canyon. It was in this large family surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, he learned the necessity of working for a living. From a young age, he learned to harness the horses, and ride the hay horse and enjoyed working in the fields either alone or with his dad.
In 1926, his mother experienced some health problems, and it was decided that the family would go to Arizona to see if the climate would help her. They traveled by covered wagon pulled by three horses. At the age of three, he got to help drive the team quite a lot during their journey. Along the way, the family stopped at the St. George Temple where the family was sealed for time and all eternity. Howard always said this was the greatest thing that ever happened to his family.
The family returned to Daniels in 1927. As Howard grew, he attended school in the little red three-roomed schoolhouse. He loved being around the horses, playing baseball, riding sleighs, skiing on homemade skis, and ice skating on the ditches or canals. He was nuts about basketball and dribbled one of them every chance he got.
He graduated from Wasatch High School in 1941 and enrolled in an aircraft electrical course at West High Vocational School in Salt Lake City. He attended school from 10 pm - 6 am each night.
On April 2, 1943, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corp. The country was at war. He was stationed in San Diego, CA, Rhode Island, Florida, North Carolina, Chicago, IL, Okinawa, Japan, and San Francisco, CA. Prior to leaving, he was ordained an Elder for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. As he studied and prayed during this time, his testimony grew. Upon returning from his service in 1946, his brother Ned introduced him to Donna Cracroft. However, he was asked to serve a mission and was soon called to serve in the Western Canadian Mission. After serving for two years, Howard returned home in November of 1948, and he and Donna were married in the Salt Lake Temple on 30 March 1949. Their marriage was blessed with three children: Lloyd, Connie, and Larry.
Howard’s work was varied. In the early spring of 1956, he worked with a friend, Harry Thalman on an airplane project he was starting up in Mount Pleasant, Utah. They moved back to Salt Lake City in late 1957 and Howard went to work as a barber. He operated his own shop for 9 years. All of the barber equipment was then hauled to a room on the back of the house in SLC. He continued to use it part-time for many of his old customers as well as family members, neighbors, friends, and missionaries for many years after. In June of 1966, after closing his shop, he went to work for Zions Securities Corporation as an electrician. With all of his schooling and electrical experience in the service, he was able to get a Master’s Electrical License from the State of Utah. During his time with Zion’s Securities Corp., he was made a Building Manager and put in charge of the Union Pacific Building, the Medical Arts Building, and the Beneficial Life Building. He had a cleaning crew and security personnel to manage. Towards the end of his career, he was asked to be a Construction Electrician where he worked on the Eagle Gate building. He loved working for Zion’s Securities and the many people he was able to meet.
Howard was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He was a true disciple of Jesus Christ throughout his life. He served in many capacities including the Sunday School, Seventies, Young Men’s MIA, Home Teacher, Bishop, Stake High Council, Stake Presidency, and Patriarch. He served as an ordinance worker in the Salt Lake Temple for 11 years. He was a great example of loving as the Savior through his dedicated service and kindness.
Soon after he retired, Donna passed away. He was blessed to find Doris J. Hayes and the two of them were married in the Salt Lake Temple on January 7, 1989. Doris had three children: Eddie R. Cox, Jurelle Marjorie Cox, and William Harvey Cox Jr. Her children have been sealed to her and Howard and we have all been blessed to be an eternal family.
A special thanks to Jurelle Cox and Bill and Carrie Cox who have loved and cared for Dad these past 9 years. We will forever be grateful for the dignity, love, and unending service they showed Dad.
Howard is survived by his daughter, Connie (Shawn) Faux of Pleasant Grove, and son, Larry E. Bethers of West Valley, daughter-in-law, Karen (Lloyd) Bethers, stepdaughter Jurelle Cox of American Fork, stepson, William (Carrie) Cox of West Jordan; sister-in-law, Jennie Bethers of Bountiful. He has 24 grandchildren, 46 great-grandchildren, 18 great-great-grandchildren, and 2 on the way, and numerous nephews and nieces spread across the country.
He is preceded in death by his wives, Donna Margaret Cracroft, Doris J, Hayes, son, Lloyd H. Bethers, and stepchildren Eddie R. Cox, and Mary Cox.
A viewing will be held Thursday, September 29, 2022, from 6 -8 pm at Larkin Mortuary 3688 West 12600 South in Riverton, Utah. Funeral will be Friday, September 30th at 11 a.m. at the Heritage 10th Ward located at 7645 S. 3200 W, West Jordan, Utah. A viewing will be held prior to the funeral from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Interment will be at Redwood Memorial Estates, 6500 South Redwood Road.
