Hal Garner Waldram

Hal Garner Waldram, 86 of Pocatello, passed away peacefully at his wife's side on January 27, 2012; due to complications from heart and kidney failure. He was grateful he had the opportunity to visit with each of his seven children in the few weeks prior to his death. He was born October 15, 1925 in Sugar City, Idaho to Byron Lorenzo Waldram and Violet Rae Garner Waldram. He was the eighth of nine children. He had seven sisters, Veniece (Owen) Leishman, Marie (Earling) Leholm, Ruth (Yale) Holland, LuDean (Orm) Jergenson, Gwen (Kenneth) Garn, Faye (Ray) Jergenson and Joan (Bob) Rowe, and one brother, Lee (Norma) Waldram.

He attended school in Sugar City, until the end of his junior year of high school. Then he moved with his family to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he attended East High School, and graduated in May of 1943.

He was drafted into the Navy in November 1943. He was sent to the Naval Training Station in Farragut, Idaho on Christmas Eve 1943. After his training, he was stationed on Manus Island in the South Pacific, where he served as a bugler for the Navy from August 1944 until May 1946, at which time he received an honorable discharge.

When he returned from the service, he began studying Business at Idaho State College in August 1946. Two weeks later, he met his eternal companion of 64 years, Barbara Heaton, of Idaho Falls, and they were married on June 18, 1947 in the Idaho Falls Temple. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business from Idaho State University in May 1951.

After graduation he began working at Terrell's Shoe Store until 1965. At that time he began working for Investors Diversified Services (IDS), later called American Express Financial Advisors as a financial planner, until 1985. He had a very successful career, and was the first to achieve the Multi-Millionaire Club in the Boise, Idaho Division. He received many awards through his work at IDS/American Express Financial Advisors, and as a result had the opportunity to travel with his wife to many places as a reward for his work accomplishments.

Hal was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. He loved serving in the church; he had many opportunities to serve in leadership capacities, including serving as Bishop of the Pocatello 16th ward. His favorite calling was teaching the Gospel Doctrine class.

On October 7, 1980, Hal and Barbara received their greatest calling and opportunity to serve as temple workers in the Idaho Falls Temple. Hal and Barbara left to serve a twelve month mission for the church in the Wisconsin Milwaukee Mission from 1991 " 1992. When they returned from their mission, Hal was called in February 1993 to serve as a Temple Sealer. After 30 years of temple service, they were released in April 2011, due to his health complications. One of his greatest opportunities as a Sealer was to marry 14 of his grand-children. Hal loved serving in the temple and especially the association he had with those he served with.

Hal and Barbara raised six sons and one daughter in Pocatello. He was most proud of his children and family; he considers them his greatest accomplishment in life. He had a wonderful sense of humor and a very contagious laugh; he loved life, his family and serving others. Gardening was one of his passions in life, and he raised a large garden every year with his wife. He also loved fishing and golfing, and spent a lot of time doing both, especially after he retired.

Hal was preceded in death by his mother and father, sisters, Veniece, Marie, Ruth, LuDean, Gwen, and his brother, Lee. He is survived by his loving wife, Barbara, seven children, Craig (Stephane), Tehachapi, California; Bruce (Bonnie), Shelley, Idaho; Scott (Carla), Pocatello, Idaho; Kimm (Margaret), Chubbuck, Idaho; Wendy Brown, Eagle, Idaho; Kelly (Cindy), Maple Valley, Washington; Mark (Connie), Pocatello, Idaho; 24 grand-children and 39 great-grand-children; two sisters, Faye Jergenson and Joan Rowe, both of Salt Lake City, Utah.

The family would like to thank the staff of Creekside Home Health & Hospice, for their kind and gentle care of Hal.

Service information is posted under the "Service Schedule" above.

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