David Filimoehala

David Filimoehala died Sunday August 19, 2018 in Kaysville, two days before his 67th birthday.  His final days were spent peacefully at his son’s home, surrounded by his family and loved ones who traveled from across the country to say goodbye.  His passing was the final chapter in a 16 month battle with cancer that he fought bravely to the end.

Born Tevita Tonga Mohenoa ‘Amanaki Filimoehala on August 21, 1951 on the island of Tongatapu in the Kingdom of Tonga, he was the oldest child of Paleiono Filimoehala and ‘Ofa Tofavaha.  He spent his early childhood in the village of Ma‘ufanga, living in the family home across from the beach on Vuna Road.  His memories of this time were filled with the carefree pursuits of a young child, playing in the calm waters of the Pacific Ocean, running barefoot down village roads, or getting into mischief at school.

Life changed for Tevita in 1960, when his mother took an opportunity to secure a better future for her son.  He was sent to the United States for school, where two of his aunties were attending Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho.  Tevita and two of his young cousins boarded a ship and set sail for San Francisco, where they travelled by train to Rexburg.  The boys spoke no English, and there was a struggle to find a home for the three of them.  Those difficulties were soon alleviated when Walter and Letha Wood took them in and cared for them like sons.  As David, he learned the discipline and hard work of life on an Idaho farm, where he helped Walter tend to the needs of the fields and livestock.

He graduated in 1969 from Madison High School and then attended Ricks College on a football scholarship.  While at Madison, he met fellow classmate Diane Bell, who he later married in 1971.  Dave and Diane were married for 25 years and had six children together.  After Ricks, he earned a bachelor’s degree from BYU and, later on, a master’s degree from Utah State University.   Following his time at BYU, he returned to Rexburg where he taught at Madison High, and coached baseball, football and basketball.  It was the beginning of a 37-year coaching career, during which he won seven state championships as a head coach.  The first came in 1984 as head coach of the Madison baseball team.

In 1986, he moved his family to Cache Valley, where he had taken a job as the head basketball coach at the high school in Preston, Idaho, and won back-to-back state championships in 1989 and 1990.  In 1994, he moved to Lehi, Utah, where he coached at West, Lehi, and Hunter high schools.  He won state championships in 1996, 1997, 1998 while at Lehi.  In 1997, he was awarded the John and Nellie Wooden award.  His final championship came in 2003 as head coach at Hunter High School.

He retired in 2014, and soon after returned to live in his native Tonga. Although he had moved to such a distant place, he would return often to Utah to see his family.  Likewise, several of his children had the opportunity during this time to travel to Tonga and visit him.  At the end of his life, his family was blessed with an additional 15 months beyond what was expected.  They will be forever grateful for those precious added memories.

He is survived by his mother, ‘Ofa; seven sisters, Pesi, Mounga, Fine, Tana, Kay, Tefini, and Alita; two brothers, Tekina and Fana; four sons Ryan (Karen), Nick (Chelsey), Chris (Darby), and Jeff; two daughters Aimee and Charee; and seven grandchildren. He is preceded by his father, Paleiono; sisters Aiona and Sesimoni; and Walter and Letha Wood.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 24, 2018 at 2 p.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 N. Fairfield Road, Layton UT. Friends may visit family Friday from 11:30 to 1:30 at the mortuary.

Interment will held Saturday, August 25, 2018 at the Sugar City Cemetery, Sugar City, Idaho at 1 p.m.