Dennison Emer Romney

Our beloved father and grandfather, Dennison Emer Romney, suffered a stroke and passed quietly away on March 16, 2004, at the age of 86.

Dennis was born March 11, 1918, in Colonia Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, the son of Miles A. and Elizabeth Burrell Romney. He married Marguerite Anderson April 3, 1941 in the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His dearly beloved Marguerite preceded him in death June 14, 1996.

Dennis and Marguerite are survived by their four children. Gayle R. Durrant (Olani) of Pleasant Grove, Utah, Deanne R. Williams (Kent) of Orem, Utah, Dennison Emer Romney II of Midway, Utah, and Lorenzo M. Romney (Nancy) of Troy, Missouri. He is Granddaddy to 28 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren. Dennis is also survived by one brother Charles B. Romney (Margie) of Ruidoso, New Mexico. His parents, his wife of 55 years, and 24 brothers and sisters preceded him in death.

His early years were spent working on his fathers farm and attending the Juarez Academy in Colonia Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. He served as a missionary in the Mexican Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1938-1940. Following his mission he attended Brigham Young University where he courted Marguerite Anderson of El Paso, Texas. They were married on April 3, 1941 in the Salt Lake Temple.

His education was interrupted when he was naturalized as a US citizen and called into the United States Army Air Corps. For the duration of World War II he served as an aircraft gunnery instructor, an assignment reserved for those with the very best teaching and technical skills.

The Romneys spent most of their adult life (37 years) living and farming in Las Cruces, New Mexico, where their four children grew to adulthood.

Dennis love was agriculture and he was recognized as one of the leaders of the Mesilla Valley farming community. He owned a cotton farm that he converted into a pecan orchard. He raised many other crops in the valley including chili, lettuce, and onions. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served actively in leadership positions on both ward and stake levels including as a Bishop and as a High Counselor.

Following his retirement he lived in American Fork, Utah, and at the time of his death was living in his daughters home in Pleasant Grove, Utah. He spent the last few years of his life becoming a prolific writer of family histories. He left his family a wonderful legacy of unwavering faith, love, service and testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was and will continue to be a beacon and guide to his posterity.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, March 19, in the Orchard Chapel at 828 South Locust Street in Pleasant Grove, Utah.

Friends and family are invited to attend viewings Thursday evening, March 18, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., at the Anderson & Sons Mortuary in American Fork (49 East 100 North), or at the Orchard Chapel one hour prior to the funeral services. Dennison will be interred at the East Lawn Memorial Cemetery in Provo, Utah.

March 17, 2004 12:00 am • By Daily Herald