Stephen Francis Friel

September 1, 1932 - February 11, 2012

Stephen Francis Friel, 79, of Orem, passed away February 11, 2012 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was born to Gilbert Francis and Frances Shuleman Friel on September 1, 1932, in Salt Lake City. He attended school in Salt Lake, graduating from South High at the age of 16. He was active in the ROTC, both in high school and at the University of Utah, which he attended for one year. During the Korean conflict, he served in the 921st Field Artillery Army Reserve. On September 12, 1952, he married the beautiful redhead he couldn’t resist, RaNay White, in the Salt Lake LDS temple. He and RaNay are the parents of three children: Shelly Jo (David) Echols, Clinton Stephen (Danae) Friel, and Kenyon Scott (Juli) Friel. They have twelve grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren. Steve had a successful career in sales, serving as district and regional representative for International Harvester and Salt Lake Hardware, and later as a regional manager for Ace Hardware. He and RaNay did a lot of traveling while he worked for Ace, and more after his retirement, when they traveled as a part of “The Fountain of Youth” trailer group. After retirement, they also served together as temple workers at the Timpanogos LDS Temple. He enjoyed guns and hunting, fish, cars, photography, tennis, and a good joke. Steve’s battle with cancer lasted for almost nine years. He surprised his doctors again and again with his quick recoveries and resiliency in the face of pain. He is loved by and will be greatly missed by his wife, children and grandchildren, as well as by two sisters and a brother: Patricia Colon, Shirley (Lloyd) Tanner, and Don (Laura) Friel. Funeral services will be held Friday, February 17, at 11 a.m. in the Orem Third Ward Chapel, 800 East 50 South. There will be a viewing before the service from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Interment will be in the Pleasant Grove City Cemetery.