Lester Whiting

Lester Gene Whiting
1930 – 2018

Lester Gene Whiting (87) passed from this life to the next on February 18, 2018, from age-related natural causes.

Les was born July 16, 1930, in Neola, UT. He was the only child to John Edwin "Jack" Whiting and Almina Elizabeth Wight Larson Whiting.

Les grew up in Neola and Fort Union area of Butler and graduated from Jordan High School in 1948. There he enjoyed the stage and art classes including drawing.

Les served a full-time LDS mission to the Texas- Louisiana mission from 1950-1952 where he honorably served the Lord.

Shortly after returning to SLC after his mission a family friend asked him to play Santa Claus at a family party.  He dressed up and appeared as Santa at the Christensen family Christmas Party where one particular young lady sat on his lap and asked for a man for Christmas. She was so beautiful that Les was glad his beard was hiding his expression.  He waited patiently for her to graduate from high school and on Sept 9, 1955, married Claudia Christensen in the Salt Lake Temple. They enjoyed 49 years together before her passing in 2004.  Together they raised 4 children-  Matt, Rebecca, Nathan, and Paul.

They moved around a lot those first few years from Colorado, Idaho, and Utah. All while Les served in the military, taught seminary for the church, and finished his education.

Les received his Bachelor's Degree in Science in 1957 from the University of Utah and his Master's Degree in Education from BYU in 1968.

He was transferred around, but upon returning to SLC taught seminary at Brighton High School, and then finishing his career as a chaplain for the Detention Center for Youth.  It is there that his testimony of the Saviors atonement was enriched as he helped many learn of Jesus Christ's love for all children no matter their religious standing.

Les and his family lived in an underground house on Bengal Blvd which had several acres open for livestock, which the family referred to as their pets. Each one of the children cherished stories of their assorted pets that all their friends were leery of.  After some time, the boys helped their dad build on top of the underground house, and that is the house Les lived in until his death.

Over the course of time, Les had been an active part of his children's lives, as well as his beautiful 6 grandchildren. Each one adored and had an individual relationship with him.  And most recently, his first great-grandchild who he had the opportunity to meet this summer.

Les leaves behind wonderful memories of his ice cream runs, pizza runs, toast in the cupboard, his red Corvette, his night before Christmas renditions, moon rocks, bolo ties and socks with sandals -  family stories from the good old days, the old apricot tree with the swing, and a testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ.

His Parents, his 6 half siblings, and his beloved wife all greeted him with open arms when he returned home.

He is survived by Matt and Holly Whiting of Sammamish WA, Rebecca and Randy Fielden of Sandy UT, Nathan and Tiffany Whiting of Highland UT and his youngest son Paul of Portland OR, his 6 grandchildren Reilly, Shelby, Aaron, Oakley, Bailey and Brooklyn, one great-grandson, Sterling and many brothers in law and sisters in law, cousins, nephews, nieces, friends and students.

Funeral services will be Tues. Feb.27,2018 at 11:00 am at the Brighton 2nd Ward, 2925 E Bengal Blvd (7600 So). A visitation will be held Monday, Feb 26, 2018 from 6-8 pm at Cannon Mortuary, 2460 E Bengal Blvd. ( 7600 So) also the day of the service at the church 10-10:45 am prior to the services. Interment at Memorial Mountain View Cemetery in Cottonwood Heights, UT.