Dottie Field Whitney

Longtime Tremonton resident, Dottie Field Whitney, 87, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 15th, 2008, in Logan, Utah. Dottie was born February 16, 1921 in Lyman, Wyoming to
John William and Mary Elizabeth Hobson Field. She had four brothers and one sister. They lived in a log cabin on homesteaded property without indoor plumbing; getting water from a pond that required chopping holes through the ice in winter. As a small child, Dottie followed her mother along the wire fences to glean wool from sheep who had brushed against or slipped underneath; using the wool to stuff their handmade quilts. She spent many evenings gathered with her family around the wood stove singing along as her father played the mandolin and fiddle. She rode with her older brothers in a horse drawn wagon to a one-room school, picking up neighbor children along the way. In her childhood, Dottie saw the advent of electricity, and the first radios and automobiles. After graduating from Lyman High School, Dottie went on to Utah State Agricultural College. She met Laurence Gayle Whitney while working as a waitress at the Blue Bird Café on campus. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple February 27th, 1942. After college, Dottie and her
husband worked together to build a successful dry farming operation in Blue Creek & Pocatello Valley, Utah. Dottie had many interests. She loved to travel and studied history. She was a voracious reader and an active member of the Simada Club, the Knife & Fork Club, and other Book Clubs. Dottie enjoyed theater, music, and good food. She was a superlative homemaker, cook, and party
hostess; inventing unique and exciting party games and entertainment to surprise her guests. She was an expert seamstress and enjoyed making her own patterns for the special outfits and dance costumes she made for her children and grandchildren. She had a zest for life and a great sense of humor; nothing tickled her more than sharing a good joke. In later life, she became an enthusiastic fan of NBA basketball, especially the Utah Jazz, San Antonio Spurs, and the Detroit Pistons, depending on which grandkids she was with during the season. She loved horses, was a Rodeo Queen Attendant, and looked forward to watching the Triple Crown thoroughbred races each year. Dottie was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She loved the scriptures and had a deep knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ; always taking the opportunity to share her testimony with family and friends and the people she met throughout her life. Dottie faithfully fulfilled various callings in the Church, and was a worker in the Logan Temple. She served with her daughter, Brenda and son-in-law, H. Jay Hassell, when they presided over the Switzerland Geneva Mission from 1987-1990. She was the heart of the Mission Home; caring for her three young grandchildren, helping prepare meals for large missionary gatherings and visiting Area and General Authorities, and using creative sewing skills to patch and stitch suits and pants of many missionaries in need. Most of all, Dottie was devoted to her family and enjoyed being with them; playing board games especially Scrabble, of which she was the Master, telling stories about the 'olden days', singing around the piano, watching the kids put on skits, and having wiener roasts out at the farm. Dottie was the beloved wife of Laurence who preceded her in death in 1971; proud mother of four children: Brenda Gayle Jay Hassell, San Antonio, TX; Leslie Eric Bryant, Harrisburg, PA; Dee Louise Whitney, Las Vegas, NV; and George F. Julie Whitney, College Ward, UT. Grandmother of twenty-three grandchildren; and adored great-grandmother of twenty-seven, who lovingly referred to her as "GG" for Great-Grandmother! Dottie is also survived by one brother, Clinton Field, Rock Springs, WY; many nieces and nephews who affectionately knew her as "Aunt Dot". She was preceded in death by her brothers: Nile, Harold , Joe, and a younger sister, Louise Newton. A viewing will be held Wednesday, April 23rd, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm at Nelson Funeral Home, 162 East 400 North, Logan, UT. Funeral Services will be held Thursday, April 24, 2008, 11 am at the LDS College Ward Chapel, 2394 West 2200 South, Logan, UT, with viewing from 9:30 - 10:30 am. Graveside services will be held at 2:30 pm in the Riverview Cemetery, 1200 South 200 East Rocket Road, Tremonton, UT. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Nelson Funeral Home in Logan, UT.
Those wishing to extend condolences to the family online may do so at www.rogersandtaylor.com , then click on Obituaries. The family suggests in lieu of flowers donations be made the General Missionary or the Perpetual Education Fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.