Dallon Franks

Dallon Ray Franks, our beloved husband, father and bompa, passed away on Tuesday, January 26, 2021, at Layton, Utah from complications due to COVID-19.  He was 85.

Dallon was born January 16, 1936 in Oakley, Idaho, the fifth child of John Edward and Therma Eliza Walker Franks.  There were four boys and four girls born into his family; Barbara, Richard, Maryann, Gayle, Dallon, Lynn, Margarete and Don.  He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Barbara, Richard, Gayle and Lynn.

Dallon was raised and attended schools in Oakley.  He started working at age 7 for farmers and made 75 cents a week and two meals a day.  Dal was a very hard worker and taught his kids how to work and to enjoy what they could accomplish thru that work.

He had a wonderful voice and took great pleasure in singing his entire life. We are sure he is now singing in the heavenly choir.  In his youth his transportation was his horse, Ione.  He always had a love for horses and spent many hours in quiet reverence riding his much loved Montano.  He always loved growing large vegetable gardens, which had to have perfectly straight rows and not a weed in sight.  His pumpkin patches were a sight to behold and he so enjoyed giving pumpkins to all the relatives and neighbor kids.

Dallon and Natalie were childhood enemies but ended up being sweethearts in high school.  They were married on February 6, 1954 and later sealed with their two little daughters, on October 28, 1965 in the Salt Lake Temple.  Dal and Nat were married just 11 days short of 67 years.

Dallon loved his country, was very patriotic and loved to see the flag pass by.  He served in the Army with the 29th Engineers and Photo Mapping Battalion at Camp Jujo in Tokyo, Japan, during the Korean Conflict.  After the service Dal and Nat moved to Utah where he worked as surveyor with UDOT for 35 years.  After retirement in 1992 he continued doing private surveying for his boss and best friend, Don Cottrell, until 2002.

Dal was faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many ward and stake callings, including three bishoprics.  Dal and Nat had the great joy of serving missions in the family and church history headquarters mission, and the Cody, Wyoming Mural Church.  Dal’s last mission was serving in the Bountiful Temple.  Dal served a total of 17 years on missions and so loved the work.

Dal treasured his family.  He was very bossy and it had to be done his way but he was also kind and loving and forgiving and never hesitated to apologize if at fault.  He was an amazing man and a great support to each of us.  He loved his jumpsuits, overalls, toothpicks and telling jokes.

Dal is survived by his wife, Natalie and his children, Cathy (Adrian) Groos, Julie (Gary) Mortensen, Aaron (Cori) Franks and Eric (Ellyn) Franks, 12 grandchildren, Christi (Trenton) Higley, Mandi (Chris) Corey, Regina Groos, A.J. (Desirie), Shaylee, Jenna, and Sam Franks and Alexa, Katie, Emma, Ivy and Eli Franks, six great-grands, Max, Jackson, Ezra, Lila and Ever Higley and Lizzie Franks.  He is also survived by his sisters, Maryann Crafton, and Margarete Seedall, his brother, Don (Jo) Franks, his brother-in-laws, Tyrell (Janice) Tanner and Michael (Dana) Tanner and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Monday, February 1, 2021 at 2 p.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Road.  Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, in-person attendance will be limited to immediate family members only.  Interment, Kaysville City Cemetery.

Services will be live-streamed by going to www.lindquistmortuary.com and scrolling to the bottom of Dallon’s obituary page.

Our family wishes to express our thanks and deep appreciation to the healthcare providers at Fairfield Memory Care for all they have done for Dallon and our family the last two years and to Inspiration Hospice nurses Madi and Donette for their tender and loving end of life care.  We are eternally grateful.

In lieu of flowers Dallon’s family would ask you to donate to the Road Home, or any Utah Homeless Shelter.

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