Donald Earl Howell

Donald “Don” E. Howell of Centerville, Utah, passed away on May 11, 2026, at the age of 92, from the frailties of old age. Don was born July 14, 1933, in Clifton, Idaho, the sixth of eight children, to Earl Bingham and Lillian Henderson Howell.

He spent his early childhood and teenage years in Clifton, Idaho, where he loved fishing and hiking the cliffs of Clifton. He was on the high school boxing team and was the catcher on the high school and Clifton town baseball teams.

Don was a proud Korean War Vet, serving two years. He attended Weber State and graduated from Utah State with a Bachelor’s Degree in Forestry.

Donald married Lois Standing Belnap on June 8, 1959. They resided in Hooper, Provo, Bountiful, Virginia, Oregon, and settled in Centerville, Utah.

Don began his career with the U.S. Forest Service as an Assistant Forest Ranger in the Bountiful District. He could name any tree, wildflower, plant, animal or fish. He survived a helicopter crash near the top of the mountains above Farmington while supervising a watershed project. He accepted the assignment of becoming an appraiser with the U.S. Forest Service. He held positions of District Appraiser with an office in SLC, promoted to Regional Appraiser with an office in Ogden, then received the promotion to Chief Appraiser of the U.S. Forest Service in 1973 in Washington, D.C. The family relocated to Centreville, Virginia.

He had a distinguished career and visited every national forest in the U.S. He was honored as the 1978 recipient of the A.S.F.M.R.A. Silver Page Award, presented to him for his outstanding writing skills in producing appraisals for the U.S. Forest Service. He received the award at a special recognition dinner, which included a recognition award for Ezra Taft Benson, former Secretary of Agriculture in the administration of President Eisenhower, and future prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ. Don was seated next to President Benson and enjoyed speaking with him as they were both raised in small towns near each other in southern Idaho.

Upon the completion of his assignment as Chief Appraiser, Don concluded his career with the U.S. Forest Service with assignments as a Regional Appraiser in Oregon and Colorado. While stationed in Oregon, Don was appointed by the U.S. Department of Justice to be their expert witness in a special adjudication of the value of a large tract of Coast Redwoods in Northern California, performing valuations of this national treasure.

His testimony was instrumental for use by a special three-member panel in San Francisco that determined the value in an eminent domain proceeding.

After two years in Denver, he retired from the U.S. Forest Service. Because of the great demand for his expertise, he spent several years as a private appraiser and special consultant to other appraisers.

Don was an active and faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ and served in many callings. He was an excellent ward clerk and highly respected ward historian for his comprehensive volumes of ward histories. He organized detailed volumes of his own family history as well.

Don was the ultimate gentleman, never letting a woman pass by without standing up or opening the door. He was a prolific fisherman and family cameraman. He was a professional ballroom dance instructor. He could take the best of them in boxing then turn around and do the same in dancing.

He was a deeply devoted husband and father, supremely supportive of his children’s activities, and a man of great honesty and integrity. He taught his children and grandchildren these qualities.

Donald is survived by his wife, Lois; their six children: Mike (Diane), Kerry (Cynthia), Vicki, Cindy, Rob (Jami) and Hank, and their 17 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren (with more on the way), and many in-laws, nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to express their gratitude to the staff of Caregivers Support Network, especially their loving nurse Kim, and Dr. Joshua Oaks, Oaks Medical Group, for the wonderful care they provided to Don later in his life. We also wish to thank the Ricks Creek Ward and our neighbors for their many kindnesses to Don and Lois over many years.

A viewing will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at Russon Mortuary, 295 North Main Street, Bountiful, Utah 84010.

On Wednesday, May 20, 2026, a viewing will also be held from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m at Ricks Creek Ward, 1461 North Main Street, Centerville, Utah 84014, followed by funeral services at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel.

Interment will be at the Hooper Cemetery, 5290 South 6300 West, Hooper, Utah 84315.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary & Crematory YouTube Channel and will be posted below.