Marlin Comran Galbraith Obituary (1915 - 2012)

Marlin Comran Galbraith died peacefully January 19, 2012, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was born July 5, 1915, in Lyman, Idaho, to Archibald and Selma Galbraith. Dad graduated from Madison High School in Rexburg, Idaho, and from the University of Idaho in Moscow with a degree in Forestry. He married Ethel Briggs of Teton, Idaho, on May 29, 1939, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Dad worked briefly with the Immigration Service in Montana and taught at Utah State University before joining the U.S. Navy in 1943. After completing his officer training, Dad was transferred to Pearl Harbor where he spent the remainder of WW II as a communications officer. After the war, Dad was hired by the U.S. Forest Service where he spent the rest of his career. He had many transfers within Idaho and Montana as well as to Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Albuquerque. His last transfer was to the Ogden regional office where he served as the Assistant Regional Forester until his retirement in 1975. Dad was very active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served as branch president, high councilor, member of several bishoprics and wherever he was asked to serve. He had an unwavering testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He also taught us as his sons the importance of hard work and honesty. Dad always set a great example for us to emulate. Dad was also involved in community service; he spent many years delivering for Meals on Wheels and was one of the oldest volunteers of the 2002 Winter Olympics. In retirement, Mom and Dad divided their time between their cabin at Mack’s Inn, Idaho, and a winter home in Mesa, Arizona. They also visited their children and grandchildren in England, Japan and Hawaii. After their children relocated to the SLC area, they sold their Mesa home and moved to Salt Lake to be closer to the family. Dad loved Yellowstone National Park and always enjoyed taking family and friends on excursions through the Park. Coupled with his knowledge of forestry, he had a truly in-depth understanding of the Park. Vacationing at Mack’s Inn was always a highlight for our entire family. Dad is survived by his youngest brother Keith; four sons: Jim (Dixie), currently serving a mission to Tokyo, Japan, Randy (Bonnie), Bruce (Marie) and Kim (Glenda); as well as 16 grandchildren and 21 great-children. He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, his parents, two sisters, four brothers, and one grandson, Brian. Funeral services will be held at Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary (4760 South State Street, Murray, Utah) on Monday, January 23rd at 1:00 p.m. A viewing prior to the service will be at noon. Interment will be in the Teton-Newdale Cemetery in Idaho on Tuesday at 1:00 p.m.