Duane Lester Whiting

Duane L. Whiting, 84, was called home October 8, 2019, surrounded by his loving family. Born April 8, 1935 to Wayne E. and Thera Whiting in Holladay, Utah. He married Beverly Bacon on December 18, 1957 in the Salt Lake Temple. He was raised in Holladay next to his grandparents chicken farm and spent his childhood roaming the Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons. Duane’s love for the outdoors was instilled in him at an early age by his father’s family. His favorite activities were camping, hunting, and fishing. This love he has passed onto several of his children and grandchildren. He also enjoyed participating and watching many sports like baseball, golfing, skiing, hiking, and basketball. He was a big fan of the University of Utah sports, and cheered for BYU--but only if they were not playing the U. He was also a big Utah Jazz fan. Duane graduated from Granite High School in 1953. He attended the University of Utah and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Geology in 1959. During his University studies, he was a dedicated member of the National Guard, working as a Bridge Design Draftsman, and helped with the design of the road over Guardsmans pass. Duane also worked for the National Forest Service in Montana and Idaho. While attending the U, Duane met the love of his life, Beverly Bacon, on a geology field trip to southern Utah. They married in the Salt Lake Temple on December 18, 1957. Duane’s father joked that he finally brought home the “Bacon”! During their sixty-one years of marriage, they had six children, twenty-one grandchildren, and fifteen great grandchildren. As an Environmental Engineer/ Hydrogeologist, Duane had a long and successful career, working at several companies like Kennecott, Geneva Steel, ASARCO, Ford, Bacon & Davis, CH2MHill, and two major gold mining companies in Nevada. As a member of the Bureau of Land Management’s Resource Advisory Council, he was instrumental in helping set new environmental mining regulations to help improve the quality of compliance and reclaiming the land. One of Duane’s most memorable work opportunities was surveying the land and helping develop the property for Disney World in Florida. For many years, he also was an Adjunct Professor at the University of Utah, teaching geology classes and directing field trips for students. A stalwart member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he had a strong testimony and love of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Never one to be bashful, he was not afraid to share this with others. He held many callings during his lifetime. His favorite was working with the young men in the scouting organization where he was called as a Scoutmaster at age thirty. He continued his scouting service for fifty-three years, and held many different positions, earning the prestigious Silver Beaver Award in 1986 for his exemplary service. During those years, he successfully assisted 106 young men to achieve their Eagle Scout award. Duane was still serving as a committee chairman shortly before his death. In 2002-2005, Duane and Bev served as church service missionaries in the Salt Lake Conference Center. And from 2005-2007 they both served as senior missionaries in the Omaha, Nebraska Mission, with assignments in the Winter Quarters Temple, the Mormon Trail Center, the Kanesville Tabernacle, and acted as Directors of the Trail Center for their final six months of service. Both Duane and Bev enjoyed traveling the world, visiting family and friends, and also ushering for the Salt Lake County Arts Program. Other hobbies include photography (he was a member of the Salt Lake Photochrome Club, and a photographer for the Days of ‘47 Parade & Events), gardening, painting, playing the organ, and doing the daily crossword puzzle with his sweetheart. But most important to him was spending time with his family, working tirelessly to organize family gatherings, and loved supporting all of their activities with a smile. Duane made lifelong friends wherever he went and was loved by all. Survived by his wife Bev, sister Arleen, children: Julie (Dennis), Scott (Jeri), Doug (Teressa), Ruth (Cory), Laura (Hanko), Amy (Mike). And his twenty-one grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. Preceded in death by his parents and a great grandson. Viewing will be held Monday, October 14th from 6-8:00 pm and Tuesday, October, 15th 9:30-10:30am, with Funeral at 11:00am. All services held at 2925 E. Bengal Blvd. SLC, Ut 84121. Interment, Salt Lake City Cemetery.

Duane Lester Whiting

April 8, 1935 - October 8, 2019