David Gale Manning

David “Dave” Gale Manning was born on September 16, 1932, to Wallace Manning and Jennie Eloise Fowles. He was the youngest of 4 boys and grew up in Hooper and Ogden, Utah. He graduated from Ogden High School and attended Weber College.

Dave often reminisced about the day he met his eternal companion, Annette Swaner of Darling Street, Ogden. Gale, as he was known then, and a friend were chipping golf balls in Monroe Park in Ogden, Utah, when they noticed a couple of cute girls playing tennis. After “accidentally” lobbing a few balls into the tennis court, David took the opportunity to introduce himself to Annette. He invited her to the service station and bought her an orange Nehi soda to apologize for interrupting her game. And the rest, as they say, is history.

When David asked Annette’s father for her hand in marriage, her father had two conditions: First, Annette had to graduate from high school, and second, they had to be married in the temple. Annette graduated from Ogden High on a Friday, they married in the Salt Lake Temple on Saturday, June 6, 1952, and by Sunday, they were on their way to Arizona, where grandpa would be briefly stationed with the United States Air Force at Luke Air Force Base.

Dave served his country during the Korean Conflict. During his journey overseas to France, an airman came into the crowded lower deck and asked: “Do any of you know how to type?” Since his mother had ensured that David had taken typing in high school, his hand shot straight up. Instead of being stuck below decks with the other sea-sick soldiers, David got to spend the rest of the voyage with the officers. He often joked that he “flew a desk” during his time in the service and was never shot down once.

Dave and Annette were blessed with 3 girls, Kristie Ann, Kathleen, and Julie. “The Girls,” as they've come to be known, were the light of Dave and Annette's life. Being the only male in a family of 4 “women” was probably challenging at times, but he always handled it with patience, charm and of course a sense of humor.

David was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held a strong conviction of the truthfulness of the restored Gospel. He held many callings in the church, but one of his most cherished callings was the opportunity to serve an 18-month mission in Nauvoo, Illinois, during the temple rededication with Annette. David and Annette also served as ordinance workers in the Bountiful Temple for over twenty years.

David served as the Branch President of the Orchard Branch in the Care Center on Orchard Drive in Bountiful. He provided sweet comfort to the members there as they “graduated” (Dave's term for passing away) from this life into the next. He served as a Stake Clerk and High Counsel member in the Bountiful Central Stake.

Dave and Annette lived in Bountiful for over 65 years. He was well known for being the manager of the Queen Theater on 5th South, and the manager at the KFC stores in North Salt Lake, on North Temple, Redwood Road, on Main Street in Bountiful, and finally the KFC on 5th South and 5th West in Bountiful. After many years of hard work, the store on 5th South and 5th West was renamed KFC Harmon-Manning in honor of Dave and Annette.

One of the greatest things about Dave is that he never met a stranger. He always said hello to people in stores, at church, or just out and about with Annette. He and Annette created a home where people wanted to be. Teenagers from KFC would come after work to hang out, friends from the “old neighborhood” and friends from the temple were always invited to dinners and parties. More than once, people asked if they could be adopted into the Manning family.

Dave lived a long and happy life but missed his sweetheart of 70 years more than words can express. David “graduated” in the early hours of April 23, 2026. He is now reunited with his best friend and love of his life, his mother, father, and stepfather. His brothers, cousins, and a lifetime worth of friends. He was preceded in death by his wife Annette, granddaughter Nicole Jackson, great-granddaughter Savannah Jackson, and great-grandsons Levi Jackson and Ty Goddard.

David leaves “The Girls” Kristie Ann (Kim) Goddard, Kathleen Manning, and Julie (Ross) Barker, 7 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren, as well as Millie the cat, whom he spoiled endlessly. We will miss him desperately but take comfort in the fact that we will meet again. Dave and Annette, two names spoken in tandem for over 70 years. It feels unnatural to write Dave without following it with Annette. Though Annette departed first, they are now reunited for the rest of eternity.

A viewing will be held on Tuesday, April 28th, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Russon Mortuary, located at 295 North Main Street, Bountiful, Utah.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, April 29th, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Bountiful Central Stake Center on 640 South 750 East, Bountiful, Utah, with a viewing from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary and Crematory YouTube Channel and on this obituary page. See YouTube video below.

David Gale Manning will be laid to rest beside his eternal sweetheart, with full military honors in the Bountiful City Cemetery located at 2224 South 200 West, Bountiful, Utah.

A special thank you to Shasta and Kylee from Bristol Hospice for providing comfort and dignity for Dave during the final days of his mortal stay. The family would like to especially thank Kathy for the years of loving care she gave to mom before her passing, and for the tender care she gave dad until he “graduated.”

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation. Visit https://www.vfw.org/ and click the red “Donate” button on the upper right-hand side of the screen.