Grant Wilford Dabel, age 94, left this life on Saturday, January 14, 2017 in Delta, Utah, to join his beloved wife, Betty. Grant was born on January 26, 1922 in Freedom, Wyoming to Wilford “Bill” Louis and Anna Kraft Dabel. He had an older sister, Gayle, and a younger sister, Rita. After his mother Anna’s death, his father married Ruby McCoy and five more children enlarged the family: Carol, Donna, Carl, Verla, and Carma. Oh, how he loved his brother and sisters.
Grant’s younger years were spent in Star Valley, Wyoming and Waukesha, Wisconsin. He was employed as a foundry worker, a butcher, as well as many other jobs throughout those years.
Grant served in the US Marine Corps during World War II. Serving part of that time stationed at Midway Island. After the war, while on leave, he met Betty Jean Thornton in Afton, Wyoming. They became smitten with one another, and after a short courtship, they were united in marriage on December 1, 1945. Their union produced four children: Anna L., Steven T., Patricia J., and Kelly W.
They made their home in Afton, where Grant worked as a butcher. In 1951, he left that job and took a job with Mountain Bell Telephone Co. in Lander, Wyoming. He worked for Mountain Bell as a lineman and an installer from 1951 until he retired in 1981.
After retiring, he was able to enjoy his hobbies of hunting, fishing, and woodworking. He and Betty enjoyed many happy days camping and RV’ing around Wyoming. He spent many years building wonderful dollhouses for his granddaughters, and beautiful furniture. He cut out lots of wooden figures for Betty to paint. Some of his favorite projects were his birdhouses. He fished many of the lakes an streams on the western side of Wyoming. He loved elk and deer hunting. He spent many years guiding dudes for his brother-in-law, Sam Young, around the mountains of Gray’s River.
In 1998, Grant and Betty sold their home in Lander, and moved to Delta, Utah to be closer to family. They lived at Sherwood Shores in a nice home at the beach edge. Both of them loved to watch the birds on the water. Grant especially loved to fish the shoreline and was thrilled whenever he caught a bass.
Grant was preceded in death by his wife: Betty; sisters: Gayle Bartlett, and Rita Eddy; granddaughters: LeeAnn Dabel, Crystal Dabel, Teri Hansen; grandson: Mark Hartley; and son-in-law: Jerry Bennett. He is survived by his children: Anna (Jerry) Bennett; Steven (Linda) Dabel; Patricia (Bill) Dunlap; and Kelly (Barbara) Dabel; brother: Carl (Natalie) Dabel; sisters: Carol (Dean) Thornton; Donna (Paul) Vanderkoi; Verla (Ray) Melvin; and Carma (Al) Summers; 19 grandchildren, 46 great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 20, at 11 am, at the Nickle Mortuary, 190 S. Center St., Delta. Viewings will be held at the Nickle Mortuary on Thursday, 6-8 pm; and Friday, 10:00-10:40 am, prior to services. Burial will be in the Delta City Cemetery.