Stephen Abbott

STEPHEN ABBOTT IDAHO FALLS, ID -- Stephen Garth Abbott, 88, died September 28, 2007, at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls of complications resulting from a fall. He was born January 19, 1919, in Richfield, Utah, to Stephen Perry Abbott and Clara Ann Etta Poulson Abbott. His mother died when he was 13 months old, which left a void he felt throughout his life. His youth was spent in Lehi, Utah, and then he left home to live with his older brother, Ron, in Rigby, Idaho, when he was 17. He graduated from Rigby High School in 1937. After traveling around the West and working farm labor jobs, he joined the U. S. Navy to further his education. He served on a hospital ship and then received a medical discharge in 1941 with a permanent disability that limited his mobility the rest of his life. He entered the University of California at Berkeley and graduated in 1946 with a degree in mechanical engineering. Steve married Leah Mildred Herbert March 23, 1940, in El Monte, California, who helped him get through school. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake City LDS temple. They had a very happy marriage and raised three sons, David Garth (Crista), Stephen Wayne (Karen), and Eric Clifford (Natalie). Mildred died in 1984. In 1946 he began a 31 year career as an engineer and manager for Shell Oil Company. He was involved in building and operating oil refineries in Martinez, California, Anacortes, Washington, and Wilmington, California. He was very proud of these refineries, which are still operating today. After retirement in 1977, he built a cabin in Island Park and traveled extensively to Europe, Alaska, China and Central America. He also mastered fishing in Henry's Lake and Island Park Reservoir. He married a high school girl friend, Leorial Waters, in 1985. They lived in St. George during the winters and Idaho Falls in the summers. Eventually, declining health caused them to move to Fairwinds-Sandcreek in Idaho Falls. Leorial died in 2005. He had another sweetheart at the time of his death, Bernice Hinthorn. He was active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held many positions. Steve was preceded in death by his two wives, five brothers and sisters, and three half brothers and sisters. He is survived by his three sons and two half sisters, Nora Sampson and Lorena Slater. He has fifteen grandsons, one granddaughter, and 20 great grandchildren. Funeral Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, October 6, 2007, at the Ammon LDS 2nd Ward, 1100 Tiebreaker in Ammon, with Bishop Sheldon Dance officiating. The family will visit with friends Saturday from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at the church. Burial will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Idaho Falls under the direction of Wood Funeral Home. Military Rites will be performed by the Bonneville County Veterans Memorial Team. ----------------------------------------- Condolences received online: Beth Turner beth302@hotmail.com Dave and Crista, We were not acquainted with your father but were interested to read about him. Please accept our sincere sympathy. Your friends, Bob and Beth Turner