ALWAYS IN OUR HEARTS

LeGrand Smith Burdick, 90, passed away peacefully in the early hours of January 13, 2016. A viewing will be held from 10:00 – 11:45 a.m. on Monday, January 18. Funeral services will immediately follow at 12:00 noon at the Montpelier Stake Center (340 N. 6th St.); interment to follow in the Bennington Cemetery.

Born March 4, 1925, in Georgetown, Idaho, LeGrand was the first child of Lloyd Burdick and Veda Smith Burdick. Four siblings followed him. He lived in Bennington for most of his childhood where his parents ran the local post office and the general store. LeGrand attended and graduated from Georgetown High School where he played basketball for several years.

Bennington was also the place where he met his forever sweetheart, Margaret Speirs, who lived right across the street. LeGrand and Margaret were married in the Salt Lake City LDS temple on September 1, 1943. Just nine days later, LeGrand entered the military. He served as a staff sergeant in the 24th division of the U.S. Army in the Pacific Theater. He was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

For most of his life, he was a general building contractor who built many homes in Star Valley and the Bear Lake Valley. He also worked as a farmer for many years.

He was a man who loved being outdoors, fishing with friends, and cheering for the Utah Jazz.

LeGrand is survived by children Carol Davidson (Don), son-in-law Roger Pedersen, Donald Burdick (Lyona), Laran P. Burdick (Shelley), and Mary Miller (Jules) along with siblings Laran E. Burdick, Dennis Burdick (Gay), Rowena Cook, and brother-in-law William Speirs (Myrna). He also has thirteen grandchildren and thirty-one great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter Judy Pedersen; brother Roger Burdick; brothers-in-law Ted Cook and L. Eldon Speirs; sisters-in-law LouAnn Burdick, Berniece Tarbet, and Louise Mickelson; and son-in-law Wendell Warren.