Albert Pierce
KENILWORTH/VERNAL – Albert Levi Pierce, age 75, of Vernal, formerly of Boneta, died March 19, 2005, in a Salt Lake City hospital of heart failure.
He was born Nov. 23, 1929, in Kenilworth, to Albert Boyd and Mary Jane Branch Pierce. He married Merlene Stark June 20, 1950, their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. She died Dec. 29, 1982. He married Thelma Beynon Smuin Aug. 2, 1984.
Albert worked as a coal miner, school bus driver, retailer, barber, insurance salesman, roofer and sheep and cattle rancher. He retired from Uintah Basin Telephone Company.
Al grew up in Carbon County and West Jordan. Lived many years in Glenwood Springs, Colo., and moved to the Uintah Basin in 1968, living in Boneta 16 years and in Vernal the last 20 years.
He was an active member of the LDS Church. He served with Thelma in the Vernal LDS Temple since it opened in 1997 until just two days before he died. He was a past member of the Glenwood Springs, Colo., Jaycees, and was a member of the Duchesne County Cattlemen’s Association.
Albert loved the high mountains of Colorado, the people and countryside of the Uintah Basin, a good fast horse and a good dog. He was a breeder and owner of many outstanding race horses. He loved the life of a rancher, serving in the temple and most of all, his family. He lived well and will be greatly missed.
He is survived by wife, Thelma of Vernal; two daughters, Dixie (Melvin) Swasey of Boneta; Paula (Gary) Jenkins of Bluebell; stepchildren, Leon (Nelda) Smuin, Lynn (Pauline) Smuin, Joan (Floyd) Collett, Chick (Jean) Beynon, and Steven Smuin, all of Vernal; 11 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, 36 step grandchildren 72 step great-grandchildren and two step great-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by three sisters, Stella Steed of Murray; Loretta (Wayne) Jones of St. George; and Connie (Larry) North of South Ogden. He was preceded in death by stepdaughter, Charlotte Ann Smuin; and brother-in-law, Bob Steed.
Funeral services will be Friday, March 25, 11 a.m., at the Vernal LDS 1st Ward Chapel, 250 North 200 West. Friends and family may call Thursday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Hullinger Mortuary in Roosevelt and Friday at the church in Vernal from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Burial, Boneta-Mountain Home Cemetery at 1:30 p.m.
Valera Otteson
CLEVELAND/ LEHI – Valera Oveson Otteson passed away on March 16, 2005, surrounded by family.
Valera was born May 28, 1921, in Cleveland, the daughter of Clarence Donovan Oveson and Ann Johannah Johnson. Valera married Fred Z. Otteson on June 4, 1943 at Grand Junction, Colo., Later solemnized in the Ogden LDS Temple.
She was a member of the LDS Church. She held many positions: secretary of the MIA in Emery Stake, Relief Society and MIA president in Hiawatha. She had also been a teacher in many organizations. She did extraction work for the LDS Church Family History Department for five years. Worked for Price Trading Company for 20 years, then worked for First Interstate Bank as a loan officer and retired after 20 years.
She is survived by husband, Fred Z. Otteson of Lehi; daughters, Marilyn Bearnson of Inkom, Idaho; Myrna (Kimball) Lewis of Pleasant Grove; sisters, Marie (Frank) Oviatt; Naomi Cox; 13 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were Monday, March 21 at the Larkin Sunset Gardens Mortuary, 1950 E. 10600 S. in Sandy. Interment, Larkin Sunset Gardens.
Dominick Besso
PRICE – Dominick Besso, age 89, passed away March 16, 2005, in Salt Lake City.
He was born Dec. 15, 1915, in Rock Springs, Wyo., to James and Martina Ferrero Besso. Married Marie Bultman July 5, 1941, in Deer Lodge, Mont.; she died July 23, 1966.
He was a member of the Catholic Church and an honorary life member of Price Elks Lodge 1550. Dom was a treasure to the community, giving to it his skills as a shoemaker and businessman and his knowledge as a storyteller and historian.
His father opened Besso Shoe Shop in 1924. Dom began working there at the tender age of nine and kept right on working until he was 87. The shop was the heart and “sole” of downtown Price where you could get your shoes fixed and a history lesson, all in one visit. He was a master craftsman, building many kinds of orthopedic supports, lifts and braces, painstakingly constructing each one layer by layer. He brought new life to thousands and thousands of pairs of mine boots and cowboy boots.
Anyone who knew Dom knew about his incredible memory of the history of Price and the surrounding area, and of the people who lived there. For years he entertained generations of Carbon and Emery county residents with stories about their families, detailing facts and events they never knew. He was a valuable historical resource, recording many hours of tapes for the Oral History Archive at the University of Utah.
Over the years, Dom’s remarkable life was highlighted in three full-page stories in the Sun Advocate and two in the Deseret News. He was photographed and profiled in three books, “Old Ties, New Attachments: Italian American Folklife in the West,” “The Other Utahns,” and “Missing Stories: An Oral History of Ethnic and Minority Groups in Utah.” August 16, 1989, was proclaimed Dominick Besso Day by the City of Price in commemoration of his 60th year in business. He was chosen Grand Marshal of the 1995 International Days Parade, and in November 2001, he was honored by the Carbon County Chamber of Commerce at its Old Timers Luncheon for his long-standing commitment to the business community of Carbon County.
He is survived by three daughters, Margaret of Salt Lake City; Kate and Jamie, both of Burbank, Calif.; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral Mass was Monday, March 21 at Notre Dame de Lourdes Catholic Church. Vigil service Sunday evening, 7 p.m., Mitchell Funeral Home. Committal service, Price City Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Notre Dame Catholic Church or Ronald McDonald House, 1135 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah 84102.
The family wishes to thank the staff of Evergreen Health and Rehabilitation Center and LifePath Hospice for their loving care and support.
Don’t worry, Pop, we won’t take any wooden nickels!!