Alton Sether

ALTON T. SETHER IDAHO FALLS, ID -- Alton Theodore Sether, 74, of Idaho Falls, died February 2, 2004, at his home. He was born June 28, 1929, in Rapid City, South Dakota, to Theodore Sether and Gladys Mary Paulsen Sether. When Alton was a young boy, the family lived in Chadron, Nebraska, where his father owned a grocery store. In 1941, they moved to Burbank, California, where he graduated from high school. Alton then attended the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, graduating in 1951 with a B.S degree in Chemical Engineering. He lived in Richland, Washington, until he was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he served with the Technical Service Unit at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, from 1955 to 1957. He returned to Richland to work for the Atomic Energy Commission until he transferred to the AEC office in Idaho Falls in 1958. During his career with the Idaho Operations Office, Alton held positions as Assistant to the Manager, Chief of the Safeguards and Materials Management Branch, and Deputy Director of the Safeguards and Security Division. He was also a member of the National Emergency Search Team. Following his retirement from the DOE office in 1983, he worked for several years as a consultant for Sandia National Laboratory. He married Patricia Ann Stillman in Rapid City, South Dakota, in 1950. They divorced in 1978. In 1986 he married Sandra Gartner in Elko, Nevada, and they were divorced in 1991. When he was young, Alton enjoyed spending time with his grandparents at their cattle ranch in South Dakota. He was an avid reader. He also enjoyed music of all kinds, particularly Country-Western, activities with his little dog Mandy, gardening, following sporting events, and was a talented chef. He was a member of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, and was also a member of the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, Grand Lodge of South Dakota. Survivors include his three daughters, Kathrynn Ann (Mark) Dietrich, Inkom, Idaho, Jenille S. Brower, and Victoria Lee Sether, both of Idaho Falls; grandson Shaun Michael (Robyn) Vreeland, Pocatello, Idaho; his special friend Marilyn Brower, Idaho Falls; and brother-in-law Bill Stillman, Rapid City, South Dakota. He was preceded in death by his parents. Funeral Services will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 7, 2004, at the Wood Chapel of the Pines, 273 North Ridge Avenue, with Chaplain John Piirto, of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, officiating. Masonic Rites will be performed by the local chapter of Masons. The family will visit with friends for one hour before the services. Military Rites will be performed by the Bonneville County Veterans Team. Burial will be in Fielding Memorial Park under the direction of Wood Funeral Home.