1943
Ronald
2023
Ronald Dean Bracken
May 15, 1943 — January 1, 2023
On January 1, 2023, with this part of his journey over, Ronald Dean Bracken, 79, slipped from this life to join family and friends in his next great calling.
Ron was born in Inglewood, California on May 15, 1943. His mother, Reba Adams Bracken moved back to Washington, Utah when his father, Ronald Wallace Bracken joined the Army in World War II. Ron married Lynda Johnson on May 17, 1968, in the St. George Temple.
Ron spent his youth in the southern part of St. George, on 300 South. His children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren loved to listen to his stories digging underground huts in the backyard. He and the neighbor kids spent many hours playing and planning there.
He loved collecting comic books, (Scrooge McDuck being his favorite), and would stop by the drugstore weekly to buy new issues. Boys in the neighborhood flocked to his house to sit and read comics. He remembers causing lots of trouble but had fun and made fond memories. Ron doesn’t remember ever getting into trouble with his parents for all the mischievous deeds they got into but he said many times, he should have.
Later he became the product of child labor; his dad “forced” him to work at the young age of 14 at the Mobil Oil Service Station his father owned. He became adept at selling tires, shocks, etc., and, later managing the service station.
He enjoyed his business and math classes best in school. Wrestling was his sport of choice and came in 2nd in State. He earned the Dixie College award for Outstanding Business and was a member of the X-Club, a service club, at Dixie College. He graduated from BYU with a degree in Accounting.
After graduating from Dixie College he served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the beautiful country of Ireland. It was there he gained a testimony that kept him strong in the gospel he loved for the rest of his life. He never turned down a church calling. He enjoyed best his time as Bishop of the 26th Ward in St. George. He loved each member of the ward and appreciated the opportunity to serve them. He also loved serving in the St. George Temple from working in the kitchen and receiving the name of “Mr. Tapioca” to the Baptistry with Lynda and serving as an ordinance worker for many years.
He wore many hats as our chief provider. He worked as the Accountant for Sunland Chevrolet until it was sold, among other businesses. He built Holiday Square, Heritage Townhomes with his Uncle Larry, Cottonwood Townhomes, two apartment complexes, and all four of our family homes. He was a hard worker who outworked us all.
After retiring he spent over 15,000 hours looking for and finding the Savior’s birth date in the scriptures. He also found many other great things along this path. He found a chiasmus in time, with the Savior as the center, as well as patterns and symbolism of all kinds. He was especially interested in understanding Book of Mormon geography and the landing place of Lehi’s family (not in South America, Meso America, or the Heartland).
He challenged all of his children and grandchildren to an arm-wrestling contest. He told them he would give them $100.00 if they could take him. No one ever won. His greatest accomplishment was of being a father to six wonderful children. He loved them and their spouses as his own. He has 19 grandchildren plus 7 spouses and 15 ½ great-grandchildren. They have brought him immeasurable joy.
Ron is survived by his wife of 54 years, Lynda Bracken; siblings, Brenda Bracken, Del Bracken, St. George; his children Kathryn (Tim) Anderson, St. George, Holly Sullivan, Pine Valley, Jared Bracken (Chrystal), Salt Lake City, Jacob Bracken, Sand Hollow, Laura (Brian) Hathaway, Salt Lake City, Jonathan Bracken, St. George, along with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents Ronald W. and Reba Adams Bracken, Washington, UT.
There will be a visitation on Sunday, January 8, 2023, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at the Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S Bluff Street, St. George, Utah.
A second visitation will be on Monday, January 9, 2023 from 9:00 am – 10:30 am at the Spilsbury Mortuary.
Funeral services will take place on Monday, January 9, 2023 at 11:00 am in the Spilsbury Mortuary Chapel.
Family and friends who are unable to attend are invited to view the funeral service online by clicking on the link below.
Video on Demand
Ron was born in Inglewood, California on May 15, 1943. His mother, Reba Adams Bracken moved back to Washington, Utah when his father, Ronald Wallace Bracken joined the Army in World War II. Ron married Lynda Johnson on May 17, 1968, in the St. George Temple.
Ron spent his youth in the southern part of St. George, on 300 South. His children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren loved to listen to his stories digging underground huts in the backyard. He and the neighbor kids spent many hours playing and planning there.
He loved collecting comic books, (Scrooge McDuck being his favorite), and would stop by the drugstore weekly to buy new issues. Boys in the neighborhood flocked to his house to sit and read comics. He remembers causing lots of trouble but had fun and made fond memories. Ron doesn’t remember ever getting into trouble with his parents for all the mischievous deeds they got into but he said many times, he should have.
Later he became the product of child labor; his dad “forced” him to work at the young age of 14 at the Mobil Oil Service Station his father owned. He became adept at selling tires, shocks, etc., and, later managing the service station.
He enjoyed his business and math classes best in school. Wrestling was his sport of choice and came in 2nd in State. He earned the Dixie College award for Outstanding Business and was a member of the X-Club, a service club, at Dixie College. He graduated from BYU with a degree in Accounting.
After graduating from Dixie College he served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the beautiful country of Ireland. It was there he gained a testimony that kept him strong in the gospel he loved for the rest of his life. He never turned down a church calling. He enjoyed best his time as Bishop of the 26th Ward in St. George. He loved each member of the ward and appreciated the opportunity to serve them. He also loved serving in the St. George Temple from working in the kitchen and receiving the name of “Mr. Tapioca” to the Baptistry with Lynda and serving as an ordinance worker for many years.
He wore many hats as our chief provider. He worked as the Accountant for Sunland Chevrolet until it was sold, among other businesses. He built Holiday Square, Heritage Townhomes with his Uncle Larry, Cottonwood Townhomes, two apartment complexes, and all four of our family homes. He was a hard worker who outworked us all.
After retiring he spent over 15,000 hours looking for and finding the Savior’s birth date in the scriptures. He also found many other great things along this path. He found a chiasmus in time, with the Savior as the center, as well as patterns and symbolism of all kinds. He was especially interested in understanding Book of Mormon geography and the landing place of Lehi’s family (not in South America, Meso America, or the Heartland).
He challenged all of his children and grandchildren to an arm-wrestling contest. He told them he would give them $100.00 if they could take him. No one ever won. His greatest accomplishment was of being a father to six wonderful children. He loved them and their spouses as his own. He has 19 grandchildren plus 7 spouses and 15 ½ great-grandchildren. They have brought him immeasurable joy.
Ron is survived by his wife of 54 years, Lynda Bracken; siblings, Brenda Bracken, Del Bracken, St. George; his children Kathryn (Tim) Anderson, St. George, Holly Sullivan, Pine Valley, Jared Bracken (Chrystal), Salt Lake City, Jacob Bracken, Sand Hollow, Laura (Brian) Hathaway, Salt Lake City, Jonathan Bracken, St. George, along with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents Ronald W. and Reba Adams Bracken, Washington, UT.
There will be a visitation on Sunday, January 8, 2023, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at the Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S Bluff Street, St. George, Utah.
A second visitation will be on Monday, January 9, 2023 from 9:00 am – 10:30 am at the Spilsbury Mortuary.
Funeral services will take place on Monday, January 9, 2023 at 11:00 am in the Spilsbury Mortuary Chapel.
Family and friends who are unable to attend are invited to view the funeral service online by clicking on the link below.
Video on Demand
Interment will be at the St. George City Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, Ron encourages you to take your family out to dinner for one of his favorite foods: pizza or to his favorite restaurant, the Honolulu Grill.
Special thanks to the many friends and family who called or came by and visited Ron and brought back many fond memories.
Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S Bluff Street, St. George, Utah. 435-673-2454. Family and friends are invited to leave a memory on Ron’s obituary page at www.spilsburymortuary.com
In lieu of flowers, Ron encourages you to take your family out to dinner for one of his favorite foods: pizza or to his favorite restaurant, the Honolulu Grill.
Special thanks to the many friends and family who called or came by and visited Ron and brought back many fond memories.
Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S Bluff Street, St. George, Utah. 435-673-2454. Family and friends are invited to leave a memory on Ron’s obituary page at www.spilsburymortuary.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ronald Dean Bracken, please visit our flower store.
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