Dean Joseph Egbert

Dean Joseph Egbert

LAYTON - Dean Joseph Egbert, life-long resident of Layton, passed away on Thursday evening, October 30, 2008, at the Davis Medical Center. Dean was born February 14, 1918 to Laura Burton Egbert and Joseph Andrew Egbert. He attended Davis High School graduating in 1936. Upon graduating from high school, he began his life-long love of farming in West Layton, raising mink, pigs, tomatoes, beans, corn, grain and alfalfa. He later worked with Utah State and Brigham Young University test stations, pioneering the development of the first purebred performance Angus herd in Utah. He enjoyed showing his Angus cattle at the Golden Spike, the Davis County Fair, Utah State Fair, and the Denver Livestock Show. For some years, Dean and Le Grande Simmons held their own "Genetic Explosion" cattle production sale. He was an F.F.A. Honorary Chapter Farmer and President of the Utah Angus Association. In 1991, he was awarded the Seed Stock Producer of the Year by the Utah Beef Improvement Association. Dean also enjoyed raising and training Quarter Horses. His farm is currently listed as one of the few Century Farms of Utah.

He served in the U.S. Army during WWII (stationed at Fort Lawton, Washington) and was honorably discharged, returning home to the farm. He married Toria Thomsen in January 1949, and later the couple was sealed in the L.D.S. Salt Lake Temple. As a member of the Layton 2nd Ward, he served as a Sunday School teacher, Young Men''s President, Sunday School Superintendent, home teacher, and Ward Clerk in the Bishopric. He was a member of the Angel Crossing Ward High Priest Quorum.

Always interested in politics, he served as Davis County Republican Chairman.

He served as President of the Straight Ditch Company planning and implementing new and innovative irrigation practices.

In 1963, Dean began employment with the Davis County Sheriff''s Department, working his way up the ranks as a dispatcher, jailor, bailiff and investigator. He especially enjoyed the challenges of investigative work and retired as an investigative lieutenant in 1983.

In his retirement years, Dean spent time farming and traveling to Scotland, birth place of the Aberdeen Angus, England, France, and Denmark. He was also an avid Davis Dart basketball fan and Utah Jazz fan, attending games whenever possible or watching them on television without fail.

He is survived by his wife Toria, daughter La Dean E. Smith, (N. Randy Smith), Keith Bagley (brother-in-law) and numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death are: brother Howard Egbert and sisters Ora Bennett, Wilma Page, and Fern Bagley.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, November 4, 2008 at 11 a.m. at the Angel Crossing Ward, 505 So. 1000 W., Layton, Utah. Friends and family may call Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist''s Kaysville Mortuary, 400 North Main and Monday from 9:45 to10:45 a.m. at the church.

Interment, Kaysville City Cemetery.