Christine Preece

Christine Preece Martin, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully on June 5, 2025, in Bountiful, Utah, at the age of 78, surrounded by her loving family.

She was born on May 15, 1947, in Ogden, Utah, and graduated from Bountiful High School. Christine built a meaningful career as an interior designer, where her natural gift for beauty, harmony, and warmth touched many lives and homes. She was also an accomplished Genealogist and made many significant contributions to her family history and enabled many of her ancestors to have their temple work completed.

Christine married the love of her life, Donald F. Martin, and together they built a family anchored in love, faith, and unwavering support. She was the proud and devoted mother of M. Troy Martin (Rebecca), Jennifer Martin, Matthew S. Martin (Karen), and Kelly Patterson (Andy). Her greatest joy was serving her family-she never missed a dance recital, a soccer game, or an opportunity to cook a delicious meal. Her home came alive during holidays, especially Christmas Eve, when she joyfully served traditional German food to a house full of grandchildren and loved ones.

A faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Christine served in many callings, but she especially loved working with the Young Women and Relief Society. Her quiet testimony of the Savior, her service-driven life, and her ability to make others feel truly seen left a lasting impression on everyone she encountered.

During Don's remote military assignments, she bore the full weight of raising and nurturing their four children with unwavering strength and devotion. Her life was marked by tireless service-not only to her family but to countless others who were blessed by her kindness and faith. Together, she and Don later served an 18-month mission in Milan, Italy, ministering to members of the military and continuing a lifelong pattern of selfless dedication to the well-being of others.

Christine found peace and joy in nature, especially in the Pacific Northwest and St. George, Utah. She enjoyed swimming with friends, painting landscapes, and capturing cherished moments of her grandchildren on canvas. Her artwork reflected not only her talent but also the deep love she felt for her family and the world around her.

People admired Christine for her unwavering positivity, calm and radiant spirit, and the love she so freely gave to Don and their children. Her legacy is of quiet grace, steadfast faith, and a heart full of compassion.

She is survived by her loving husband, Don; her children; and treasured grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Oral and Dorothy Preece, and her brothers, Scott and John Preece.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at 11:00 AM at the LDS Chapel, 351 South Lofty Lane, North Salt Lake, Utah, where a viewing will be held from 9:45-10:45 AM prior to services. Interment will follow at the Bountiful Cemetery.

The Martin family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the members of the Eagleridge Ward for their generous support, service, and love during this time.In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to honor Christine's memory by performing an act of kindness, attending a loved one's milestone, or creating something beautiful, just as she did every day of her life.

Services will be streamed live on Russon Mortuary Live Facebook page and the Russon Mortuary obituary website.

Mike Bell

   

Michael (Mike) Douglas Bell of Sandy, Utah, devoted son, husband, father, grandfather, friend, and veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps – 1st Force Recon, passed away peacefully in his sleep on May 10, 2025, at the age of 78, after a brief battle with gastroesophageal cancer. The family is deeply saddened and shocked by his sudden death and will greatly miss him. Michael was born on January 8, 1947.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, George and Geneva; sisters, Elizabeth (Clyde) Haslam, Donna (Dean) Johnson, Joan (Bill) Neinke; and brother, Ronald, and many friends and brothers in arms.

Mike is survived by his wife Leslie (Werner) of 54 years; and their children, Addam (Jennifer), and Aimee (Jason) McDaniel. Forever cherished and remembered by his seven grandchildren, Shawn, Dimitri, Annabella, Jackson, Sophie, William, Pepper, his many nieces and nephews, as well as lifelong friends Lynn Clark, Jerry Maroney, Jerry Westenskow, Bill Woodier, David “Stick” Nelson, and David “Gertie” Gugich, and many others.

During his senior year at Bountiful High School, he also attended TradeTech (which is now Salt Lake Community College) and worked at night at Litton Industries making guidance systems for military aircraft. After his graduation in 1965, Mike enlisted in the Marine Corps, having always wanted to be a Marine and serve his country. While he ultimately went to Radio School, he had first attended Flight School and never lost his love of flying.

While in Radio School, Mike volunteered for Force Recon and was assigned to the 1st Recon Battalion upon graduating. He served in Vietnam from 1966 – 1967 with a Top-Secret clearance. During his time in Vietnam he participated in seven different Operations, performed 36 documented long range combat reconnaissance patrols and an additional 18 undocumented ones, as he was often asked for by name due to his expertise and skills. He received numerous awards and medals, was wounded multiple times, and took over 200 hours of Marine Corps Institute (MCI) courses before being honorably discharged in 1971.

After the Marines, Mike worked nights at Albertson’s, where he met his wife (he really liked her mini skirt). He married her seven months later on February 11, 1971. She convinced him to go back to school and he attended Weber State University and graduated with Honors as a machinist and later received a degree with Honors in Manufacturing Engineering Technology.

Some of his greatest joys came from spending time with his family and his cats. He loved traveling to Air/Car Shows, Marine Corps reunions, or anywhere his wife wanted to on vacation. Those who knew Mike will remember him for his outgoing personality, joyful storytelling, incredible generosity, infectious smile, and roaring laugh. He was always the mother hen and was quick to reach out and check up on those he loved – which included a regular “nose count” of his cats at least once a day. He loved to be needed and was quick to serve and give of his time, talents and money.

He took an active role in the lives of his children, their friends and spouses, and his grandchildren by celebrating their accomplishments and teaching them important life skills or sharing advice. He was extremely proud when his son Addam followed in his footsteps and joined the Marine Corps and even taught his daughter-in-law how to weld a stinger they designed together for her Jeep.

Mike had many interests throughout his life and had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, often spending his spare time researching topics of interest, reading books, designing and/or building things like a Cobra sports car, an airplane and helicopter parts, and many other projects, including some with his various jobs which were, at times, top secret. He had a lifelong love of music and regretted never learning to read music and when he lost his ability to sing late in life.

A graveside service with full military honors will be held in his honor at the Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery in Sandy, Utah, on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at 12:30 PM. and a Celebration of Life afterwards (details to be provided day of).

Randy Moon

 

Randy Glen Moon

December 24, 1946 — May 1, 2025

Bountiful

Randy passed away peacefully at his home in Bountiful, Utah on May 1st, 2025, after having lived for several years with Lewy Body Dementia.

He was born December 24, 1946, in Salt Lake City, Utah, the son of Glen Leonard Moon and Geraldine Austin Moon. He married Susan Butler, February 11, 1972, later meeting and marrying Debra Davis Crane on December 20, 2005.

Randy graduated from Bountiful High in 1965. He received his Bachelor of Science (1969) and his Master of Science (1973) from the University of Utah. He then earned his PhD in genetics (1977) from the University of Hawaii.

Randy was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he served in the Bishopric and taught gospel doctrine classes.

Randy worked as a scientist at Research Park while teaching genetics at the University of Utah. Later, he worked for the State of Utah for several Governors as their Science Advisor and was involved in many Utah issues. He worked in Human Services for the State of Utah, while also teaching as an adjunct science professor at Salt Lake Community College. He finished his career working full time as a SLCC professor teaching Human Anatomy and Physiology.

Randy was an exceptional teacher making it fun and easier to learn with his teaching style and sense of humor. He loved the students and took an interest in them personally, always learning everyone's names. Randy would say that he loved people and so wherever he went he'd strike up a conversation with someone and then introduce them to his wife as "meet my new friend" telling her their name and something about his new friend. Randy was known for his fun, subtle sense of humor that he inherited from his father and passed down to his boys.

Randy and wife Debra loved to travel and spent over 15 years in seeing the world and visiting many different countries and cultures via ocean and river cruises and land tours. Randy loved hunting and drew four out of the five "Once in a Lifetime" tag permits in Utah. Their beautiful taxidermy heads are mounted on their walls to prove it. In New Zealand he accomplished getting his trophy stag and other unique animals. Still, his favorite place to visit was Alaska where he loved the fishing.

We all know that God has a sense of humor, and he knew how much Randy lived for hunting.  So last October, while Randy was still able to get around with assistance and mentally aware, "Eastmans' Hunting Journal", with around 43,000 subscribers, drew Randy's name for one of their all-expense-paid "Once-in-a-Lifetime Hunt" at the Hill Ranch in Colorado.  This either had to be a sad joke or a gift.  Randy and wife, Debra, took it as a gift and went for five days on their last amazing adventure.  Randy proved to still be that exact sharpshooter and bagged another trophy elk.  Much appreciation to Ike Eastman and crew.

"Dad, thank you so much for instilling in your kids a sense of adventure. You taught us so much about the world around us including, taking photographs, picking up rocks, and identifying wildlife. You put in the hard work in order for us to travel, explore, and see the world. You were such a wonderful example of a father for us with our own children. You loved and enjoyed your grandchildren so much and they loved their "Papa." You taught us to love life, nature, and the holidays. We will miss you so much."

Randy is survived by his wife, Debra, and ex-wife, Susan, sons: Nathan (Emily), Ryan (Shannon), Chris (Jessica).  Daughters: Natalie (Lance), Emilee and seven grandchildren: Ethan, Elizabeth, Jaycie, McKenna, Brooklyn, Jackson & Mitchell Moon.

Preceded in death by his parents, Glen and Gerry and brothers, Jerry and Kent.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 AM, Wednesday, May 7th, 2025, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel, 640 South 750 East, Bountiful, Utah, where a viewing will be held from 10:30-11:15 AM prior to services.

Interment will follow at the Bountiful Cemetery, 2224 South 200 West, Bountiful, Utah.  A luncheon will be held at the church following the cemetery.

Special thanks to Utah Home Health & Hospice.  Gratitude to Season Farrer, RN, not only for her stellar care of Randy, but her sense of humor that brightened both our days.  Also, Dallin Taylor for his sensitivity in Randy's personal care.

Fredra Gough

 

Fredra Diane Bates

Dec 17, 1946 - March 22, 2025

Fredra Bates passed away in the early hours of March 22nd, in Laguna Beach, California, following a brave battle with the rare condition Multiple System Atrophy (MSA).  She was a cherished wife to her high school sweetheart Ralph Bates, mother to Jennifer and Jacqueline, and grandmother to Abby, Alex, Miles and Russell.

Preceded in death by her brother, James Gregory Gough, father, James Gough, and mother, Jacqueline Foote Gough.

Fredra was born in Payson, Utah, moved to Pomona, California, and in 1963 made her way back to Bountiful, Utah.  She graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor's degree and earned her master's degree from Wichita State in Speech and Language Pathology.

Fredra will be remembered by her family, friends, and colleagues for her warm and exceedingly generous nature. She enhanced the lives of her students over four decades of service in public schools and private therapy. She remained a student herself, attending classes, training and conferences to enrich her knowledge and better serve those she worked so tirelessly to help.  In addition to the many personal expressions of appreciation from the thousands of families she served, her devotion and expertise to her students also resulted in formal recognition including awards of Teacher of the Year in her district many times over. 

Fredra and Ralph traveled the world with friends in their retirement, while never missing the chance to spend time with their daughters and grandchildren.   Always a kind and compassionate teacher, she guided her family with humor and managed to provide support and direction without judgment or any regard for her own interests. Her family treasures those memories and misses her, while enjoying her enduring impact on them and all those who knew her.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Bates residence in Laguna Beach, California on April 26th, 2025. 

Donations in her name can be made to Mission MSA at https://missionmsa.org/