Don C Boggess

Don Clarence Boggess, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully in his home on June 10, 2026, at the age of 92, having bravely fought a prolonged battle against Parkinson’s disease and Father Time.

Don was born June 9, 1934, to Clarence Melvin Boggess and Elizabeth Howard Boggess in a small, one-room house in Union, Utah. His family were farmers and they worked sunup to sundown to keep food on the table. The labor was hard, but Don enjoyed being outdoors and seeing his efforts produce tangible results. He developed a strong work ethic and sense of responsibility that he maintained throughout his life, and he always found gratification in working the earth. Farm life did not allow for much free time, but when it did, Don enjoyed riding horses and fishing with his uncle Larry. When Don was 16, a 13-year-old girl named Shirley Price came to pick tomatoes. By day’s end, Don was smitten and he soon asked her to a dance. That began a courtship that would continue for 7 years.

Don graduated from Jordan High School in 1952 and attended the University of Utah until joining the Army in 1955. In the military, Don displayed aptitude for the medical profession and trained as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). He graduated with honors, ranking first in his class, from the Army Medical Services School at Fort Sam Houston in Texas and became a Dental Specialist at Fort Hayes in Ohio. He later transferred to Dugway Proving Grounds in Utah to be closer to Shirley and served as an EMT in munitions, ensuring that those who maintained and dismantled chemical weaponry were healthy and safe. Don received an honorable discharge in 1957.

While Don was in the Army, he and Shirley realized how much they had come to love and rely on each other. They were wed on April 19, 1957, at the Salt Lake Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah, and began a marriage that endured for 69 years and produced 4 children, 13 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Don and Shirley enjoyed camping, fishing, bowling, concerts, dancing to big band music, going out for ice cream and playing with their dogs. In 1963, they built a house of their own in Cottonwood Heights, Utah, where they would raise a family and live the rest of their lives.

Don wore many hats in life – literally and figuratively. He spent 33 years working for the Jordan School District as a bus driver, mechanic, and acting lead mechanic. While there, he held positions on numerous executive committees, including presidencies of the Jordan Bus Drivers Association and the Jordan Classified Employees Association. He also went back to school and completed an Associate Degree in Accounting from Salt Lake Community College. Don spent 4 years as manager of the Cottonwood Heights Recreation Center ice rink and 3 years as manager of the Hygeia Ice rink. He never said, but Don probably held these positions just so he could drive the Zamboni. Other occupations he had throughout the years include real estate agent, lead mechanic, road construction crew, agricultural insurance crop appraiser, and warehouse supervisor. He always gave his employers an honest effort and he took pride in the quality of his work.

Don was a faithful, lifetime member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He wanted more than anything to serve a mission in his youth, but his responsibilities on the family farm prevented it. Later in life, he was able to serve twice as a stake missionary. Don always strove to magnify his many callings and be worthy of his priesthood. Don lived his life with faith, humility, and gratitude. The example he set has been a blessing to his posterity and he took satisfaction in seeing 3 kids and 10 grandkids serve missions.

As a child, Don wanted to be a cowboy. He enjoyed riding and had his own horses for much of his life. His closet was full of boots, flannel shirts, and Stetson hats. He read Louis L’Amour books and was partial to western movies – especially John Wayne. Being a farmer, it was also common to find him watching shows about antique tractors. Don liked working with his hands and he was a great mechanic. He could diagnose an engine just by listening to it and he could fix anything. He also liked amassing tools. Don was a meat and potatoes man, and he savored his prime rib. He also liked KFC, corn, fish, and ice cream. He was famous for making plate-sized pancakes for his kids and cabin potatoes for his grandkids. Don found solace in the mountains and was an accomplished fisherman. He loved nothing more than spending quality time with his children and grandchildren while fishing the lakes and rivers of Utah. Later in life, he found enjoyment in attending his grandkid’s basketball games, performances, and other meaningful events. He liked to spend time at his cabin, and he always appreciated a good game of cards.

As the last living member of his family, Don was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Richard Boggess (Zepha); and his sisters, Pat Evans (Bob) and Mary Applegate. Don is survived by his wife, Shirley Price Boggess; his children, Brian Boggess (Laura), Brad Boggess, Becky Liljenquist (Darin) and Brook Boggess (Tori); his 13 grandchildren, Brooke, Mark, Meagan, Andrew, Matt, Joe, Danny, Dakota, Sky, Braden, Trace, Landon and Chance; and his 3 great-grandchildren, Madi, Kirk and Cora.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 20, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. at the Bengal Heights Ward, 2925 E. Bengal Blvd. (7800 S.), Cottonwood Heights, UT. A viewing will precede the service from 12:00 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. and interment will follow at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 E. Dimple Dell Rd., Sandy, UT.