Freeman Justin Byington

A very kind, gentle and patient man, Freeman J. Byington, 91, passed away Sunday, February 22, 2004 at his home in Logan from causes incident to age. Freeman was born August 6, 1912 in the family farm home in Blazer, Bannock county, Idaho, the son of Ettie Sophia Smithies and Charles Norton Byington. He attended school in Blazer, Logan High School, and received a Bachelors and Masters degree in Agronomy and Plant Breeding from Utah State University. He married Doris Harper on September 17, 1937 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. He was a kind caregiver for her until her death in 1988. He served in the European Theatre in World War II as a Corporal in Battery A, 868th Field Artillery, 65th Division in Patton?s Third Army. He was the first inductee from Box Elder County. Freeman served as Box Elder County Farmers Home Administration supervisor, manager of the Box Elder County Bank, and a Management Analyst at the Defense Depot in Ogden. He served as president of the Tremonton and Brigham City Lions Clubs and the Box Elder Chamber of Commerce. He dedicated his life to service in the LDS Church and served in numerous positions including bishoprics, high council and doing temple work in Logan and Mesa, Arizona. Freeman and Vivian Harper Hunter were married July 10, 1991 in the Logan LDS Temple. They enjoyed loving and serving each other for the past 12 ½ years. Freeman considered his family his greatest accomplishment and he was an avid genealogist and family history author. His favorite pastimes were gardening, raising grapes, participating in the reenactment of the driving of the Golden Spike in Promontory, his Arizona winter home, fishing, hunting, and swimming. He is survived by his wife, Vivian; brother: Earl Byington of Saratoga Springs, Utah; sister: Clista and husband Max Chidester of Kearns, Utah; daughters: Carol and husband David Johnson of Nibley, Judy and husband Fred Weindorf of Orem and son: Neal and wife Suzanne of Smithfield; 17 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren; stepsons: John L and Renee Hunter of Scarsdale, New York, William James and Sandee Hunter of St. Anthony, Idaho; stepdaughter: Barbara and Rick Ward of Driggs, Idaho; 21 step grandchildren and 41 step great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 28, at 1:00 p.m. at Nelson Funeral Home, 162 East 400 North, Logan, with Bishop Mike Jones, of the Logan Ninth Ward, conducting. A viewing will be held Friday evening, February 27 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday morning from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. prior to services. Burial will be in the Logan City Cemetery. Condolences may be extened to the family online at www.nelsonfuneralhome.com . Special thanks for the kind care given Dad by the staff of Terrace Grove Assisted Living, Tina Winters, Dr. Edward Redd, and IHC Hospice.