Donzel Ardeth Youngblood

In loving memory of Donzel A. (Don) Youngblood who passed away peacefully on 13 September 2021 at Bel Air Senior Living in American Fork, Utah.  Don was born 21 June 1930 in Portland, Oregon to Harley Otto Youngblood and Beulah Phoebe (Fanning) Youngblood. 

Don was an electrical, construction, and pipeline engineer working for more than half his life at International Bechtel Inc., having even been called out of retirement back to work in his advancing years.  Through his work for Bechtel, he travelled sometimes by himself as he did to Italy and New Guinea but usually with his family to live in several places in the United States and overseas where they lived in Alberta, Canada; Beirut, Lebanon, London, England; and Columbia, South America.  The family always took advantage of the opportunity to travel enjoying numerous other cultures and countries in the Middle East and Europe.  Even in the United States, Don insisted the family visit the cities and sites wherever they lived, every place leaving a mark on the family.

Don and Loberta eventually settled in American Fork, Utah where they continued to make lots of friends.  Don loved to work and be of service.  After a productive engagement as President of the Home Owners Association where they lived, he couldn’t sit still and could often be seen outdoors around the complex trimming dead wood off trees, spraying dandelions, cleaning house gutters and window wells, painting house trims, digging out sprinklers and picking up pine cones. He loved to visit, chat with and help the neighbors.

He was also fond of working on family history with his wife. He was fascinated to find his lines included royalty, famous people and even links to his wife’s lines in the distant past.   Don and Loberta took genealogy seriously and often combined it with travelling to places ancestors lived in the United States and Great Britain. They have, with their daughter Ellen, contributed a great deal of information to the Genealogical Society records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 60 years Helen Loberta (Connor) Youngblood and his son Eric Russell Youngblood.  Also preceded by his parents and step parents William Oscar Moore and Elinora McCrone Youngblood and two brothers Harley and Baylis Youngblood.  He is survived by two daughters Ellen Y. Tadlock (Sid) of Lehi, Utah and Sheryl L. Youngblood of American Fork.

Don’s family would like thank all the folks at Bel Aire Senior Living (including Jay Morgan and Lindsey Long) and Symbii Hospice (including Brooke Lee, Corey Astle, and Megan Hudson) and numerous others for taking such good care of him during his final months.   

A graveside service will be held on Thursday, September 30^th at 11:00 a.m. at the American Fork Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, please leave a memory you have of Don,