Frank R. Gardner, Afton Church, Civic Leader, Dies
Franklin Richards Gardner,, 83, Afton pioneer, prominent community builder, civic and church worker, died Sunday, June 4, 1972 at his home in Afton of cardiac failure.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, June 7 at 1 p.m. in the Afton First Ward Chapel, with Counselor Kay L. Robinson conducting. Burial was in the Afton Cemetery.
He was born July 23, 1888 at West Jordan, Utah, the last of eight children to Archibald and Mary Larsen Gardner. He was also the youngest of Archibald's 48 children form his plural marriages.
In 1889 he moved to Star Valley with his parents, where LDS Church Pres. Wilford Woodruff had advised Archibald to take his youngest family and settle where other polygamist families were going to avoid the persecution of those who had entered plural marriage.
Together with Big Gardner, who also moved to the valley, they built a two-room home in the mouth of the Swift Creek Canyon. Here they also built a grist mill and sawmill in accord with Archibald's previous plans.
Frank was educated in the Afton Elementary School until he finished the 6th grade. When he was 14 his mother took him to Logan to finish the grades and Ed, Lillie, and Wilford accompanied them there to attend college.
In 1909 at the age of 21, he was called on an LDS mission for three years to South Africa. He was released in 1912.
He married Leone Angelia Rich, June 8, 1916, in the Salt Lake Temple. To this union three daughters were born--Alta, Bernice and Lillian. After only four years of marriage during the world-wide "flu" epidemic Leone succumbed to the dread disease.
Five years after his first wife's death, on Feb 6, 1924, he married Mary Luthi in the Salt Lake Temple. Three children were born to them, Yvonne Rex and Delano, Mary died March 6, 1958.
After serving in the church as a Sunday School teacher, home teacher, and assistant Sunday School superintendent, at the age of 31, Frank was called in 1919 as Bishop of the Afton North ward, and he served in this position for 25 years. After his release he served on the Stake High Council for 12 years.
Of his bishopric service, he wrote "I wish I had kept a personal record of all the babies I blessed, of missionaries I called, ordinances performed, funerals conducted and marriages officiated. Also of the families visited each December by the bishopric."
Frank was a hard worker and loved to work. With his brothers he operated the Gardner Brothers Milling Company including a gristmill and sawmill for many years and retired only a few years ago.
He had a firm, unshakable testimony of the restored gospel, and shared it with zeal many times as late as the last stake quarterly conference. He was humble, prayerful and unselfish. He had a strong love for people in general as well as for his loved ones. In later years he shared him home with his daughter and son-in-law, Dean and Yvonne Clark who took over operation of the Gardner Sawmill.
He was proud of the fact that all his children were married in LDS Temples, and that all had been able to attend college.
He is survived by son and daughters, Mrs Lloyd (Alta) Miller, Pocatello, Idaho; Mrs Russel Marden (Bernice) Despain, Pasco, Wash,; Mrs Gordon (Lillian) Despain, Lovell, Wyo.; Mrs Dean (Yvonne) Clark, Afton; and Rex Gardner, Laramie, Wyo.; 27 grandchildren 12 great grandchildren; a sister Lillian Elnora Widdison Garner, Wilford Woodruff Gardner, Salt Lake City.
One son, Delano, preceded him in death.

Gardner, Franklin Richards (4 Jun 1972)Star Valley Independent

Franklin Richards GARDNER is the son of Archibald GARDNER and Mary (Sidsie Marie) HANSEN (LARSON)
Franklin Richards GARDNER married Mary LUTHI 6 Feb 1924 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, UT
Leone Angelia RICH 8 Jun 1916 in Salt Lake City, S-Lk, UT