Donald R. Duke Obituary (1929

Donald R. Duke was born July 13, 1929 in Provo, Utah to Ralph Hyrum and Frances Nielsen Duke. He passed away October 22, 2018 in Provo, Utah. Don attended school in Logan, Salt Lake and Provo, graduating from Provo High School in 1947. He was the Utah State High School High Jump Champion. He served honorably in the US Army from 1951-1952 in the US and Europe. In 1953 Don married Betty James and together they had four children; Dev (Alese), Tim (Cindy), Trisha (Brent) Levetan and Tracy (Bryan) Nichols. Don and Betty were proud grandparents to nine grandsons and seven great grandchildren. They enjoyed watching their children and grandchildren play in a variety of sports over the years. Everyone knew their names at the baseball field. Betty passed away in 2016 and Don was her kind and compassionate caregiver. Don was employed in the Open Hearth at Geneva Steel for over 40 years. He took early retirement and enjoyed taking his RV south for many winters. Don had many interests; camping, cars, cooking, birds, building and driving dune buggies, and the Utah Jazz. In 1980 at the age of 51 he ran the St. George Marathon. He was an accomplished wood craftsman, mechanic, and a master handyman; all self taught. He could fix anything. At the age of 87 he designed and built a backyard greenhouse and filled it with beautiful flowers and a bumper crop of vegetables. Throughout his years Don made many lifelong friends of all ages. He was loved by many and will be missed. He is preceded in death by his wife Betty, son Dev Duke, sister Marilyn Williamson and brother Robert Duke. Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 2, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. in the Berg Drawing Room Chapel, 185 East Center Street, Provo, Utah. Friends may call at the mortuary on Thursday, November 1 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. and Friday from 10:00-10:45 a.m. prior to services. Interment will be in Eastlawn Memorial Hills. Condolences may be expressed at www.bergmortuary.com.