Wilford Birger Lindman Obituary (1921 - 2014)

1921-2014 Holladay, Utah -Wilford Birger Lindman passed peacefully from this world to the next on December 30, 2014. He was 93 years old. He would tell family and friends that he was waiting for his beloved wife, who passed earlier, to toss him down a rope so he could join her. Wilford was born September 13, 1921 in Salt Lake County. His parents were Axel Lindman and Anna Viktoria (Lindberg). Wilf, or "Willy" as he was known in his youth, was an adventurous boy growing up in the Sugar House area of Salt Lake City. He attended South High School, where he was a member of Concert Choir and the ROTC, and graduated in 1938. In 1939 he moved to San Francisco, California to obtain work in the shipyards at Bethlehem Steel. While there he met the love of his life, Mary Louise Parker and they married in 1941. He joined the US Navy during WWII and graduated from the Navy's Basic Engineering program in Gulf Port, Mississippi and Refrigeration School in Syracuse, New York. He then served as a Machinist's Mate and Refrigeration Mate 1st Class aboard USS APL-25. After the war, the family lived in San Francisco, where Wilford and Mary Louise built a heating and air conditioning business before moving to Salt Lake City in 1957 where he designed and constructed the home in which they lived for the next 57 years. Wilford worked for several companies and was successful in sales and management, traveling throughout the United States, working hard to provide for his family. He had an amazing creative mind, and loved building and fixing things. He was also always willing to help others. He served in many positions in the LDS church. He and Mary Louise served as ordinance workers in the Jordan River Temple, 1986 to 1997. In 1997, they were called to serve as full-time missionaries at the John Johnson Farm in the Ohio Cleveland Mission. Following that assignment the couple was called to serve in the Temple Square Mission. Wilford would continue to serve in that Mission until his 90th year. His last "self-appointed" mission in life, which he fulfilled very well, was to be loving and kind to everyone, and to express gratitude to all those who assisted him. Wilford had an amazing positive attitude. His smile, wit, and laughter, and a caring nature encouraged all. He was often heard saying, "Hang in there. Don't give up!" And he became affectionately known as the "elbow man" as he often exchanged elbow-touching for handshaking in an attempt to stay healthy. Wilford loved his family, his God, and his Country. He is missed. Wilford was preceded in death by his parents, a sister Vivian MacKay, and his wife, Mary Louise. He is survived by a sister, Faye Koehler, five children and their spouses: Diane Brown (Reynold), Jerry Lindman (Sue), Carol Webb (Norriss), Suzanne Hansen (Michael), and Joanne Bingham (Warren); 32 grandchildren, 103 great-grandchildren and, one great-great grandchild. Funeral Services will be held Friday, January 9, 2015 at 11:00 am at the Cottonwood LDS 5th Ward Chapel, 5913 South Highland Dr. Friends and family may gather to express love and pay respects on Thursday, January 8th, from 6-8 pm, at Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary, 4760 S. State, Murray, Utah. Burial, Murray City Cemetery. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in the memory of Wilford B. Lindman to the FISHER HOUSE FOUNDATION which is dedicated to helping wounded veterans and military families. Fisher House may be contacted at www.fisherhouse.org or by mail at 111 Rockville Pike, Suite 420, Rockville MD 20850-5168. Funeral Home: Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary-Murray 4760 So. State Street Murray, UT 84107