Verl Glen Chidester

Our devoted, hardworking, and faithful Dad, Grandpa, Great Grandpa, & Great-Great Grandpa returned home to be home to be with “sweetheart” and his Father in Heaven along with his son, daughter, and two grandsons who have been waiting for his return on December 12, 2023, while surrounded by his loving family.

He was born on September 25, 1938, to Glen Madison Chidester and Doris Fedelia Miller. For the first month of his life, he was known as baby boy Chidester. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1955 and served actively for two years aboard the USS Cunningham, he was released from Active duty in 1957 and then served two years active reserves and was honorably discharged in 1959.

He married his beautiful “sweetheart” Donna Joy Snow on January 13, 1958, in Elko, Nevada. They loved each other so much that they renewed their wedding vows several times before they were eternally sealed in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on July 19, 1981.

They began raising their children in Sandy, Utah in their humble eight hundred square foot house, until the house just was not big enough anymore for six children. They then moved to Draper, Utah where they added three additional children for a total of nine.

Dad was devoted to providing for his family, many times working more than one job to be able to put food on the table and a roof over our heads. He started out working as a meat cutter, then as a Sheet Metal Worker for Greip Sheet Metal. After many years he decided to start his own business Sheet Metal Systems. He was so successful at it that in 1995 he was able to retire, and he and his “sweetheart” moved to Mesquite, Nevada while turning the business over to three of his sons. Dad and Mom were able to travel extensively, including an incredibly special trip to Chichester, England where his ancestors were from.

Dad was attending a family reunion and the subject of “The Chidester Mansion” came up. So, lo and behold they traveled to Panguitch, Utah to see it, finding it to be for sale at that time they ended up buying it. They moved to Panguitch and while living there he was able to purchase more property across the street and build a four plex, mostly by himself but with help from family when needed, in which he rented for additional income. He also built a real old-style cabin in the front yard of the Chidester mansion which can still be seen today, this was not a log kit it was built by him just like you would do it in the old days, our father always seemed to take 2 steps forward and then 3 steps backwards in time.  As they settled in, they were called to serve a mission and accepted. They served a faithful mission in Peoria, Illinois for 12 months in 2005.

After returning from their mission, they decided to move back to their home in Mesquite until they moved back to Utah in 2016, so they could be closer to several of their children.

Preceded in death by his “sweetheart” Donna Joy Snow, his parents Glen Madison Chidester and Doris Fedelia Miller, and siblings Phillip Chidester, Sharon Chidester Sample, Ruth Thommen, Dorothy Hess, and Ronald Chidester. Also preceded in death by Son, Frederick Glen Chidester, Daughter Misti Ann Chidester, Grandsons Treyson Lake Chidester, and Kayson Blake Chidester.

Survived by Annette (Mike Tanner), Debuque, CO, Christopher (Jana) Chidester, Riverton, UT Verl L. Chidester (Vickie) Chidester Sandy, UT, Michelle (Dwayne) Mitchell, Chattanooga, TN, Susan Gottfredson, Sandy, UT, Brian Chidester, West Valley City, UT, Lonnie Chidester, San Diego, CA.

Our family would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to those at Renew Hospice and Home Option Personal Care, for the care they provided to dad in his final days here on earth.

A viewing will be held at Anderson & Goff Mortuary located at 11859 South 700 East, Draper, UT Sunday evening December 17, 2023, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Additional parking is available at the tracks station directly across from the mortuary.

Funeral services will be held on December 18, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at the Crescent 11th Ward, 89 East 11000 South, Sandy, Utah with a viewing 1 hour prior.

Interment will be immediately after service at the Crescent Cemetery, 11105 South State Street Sandy, Utah which is located near to the Chapel.

In lieu of sending flowers, dad has requested donations be made in remembrance of him to the Utah Food Bank – Verl Chidester The link to donate is https://secure.utahfoodbank.org