Donald Bigelow Bradley Obituary (1924

Donald was born in Mammoth, Utah. He grew up in a loving environment where he learned industry and frugality while raising livestock and adventuring with his siblings. Under his dad’s direction at age eleven, he dismantled their former house, salvaging all materials, including nails, to build a barn for their animals. More hard work followed. At ages 12 and 13, he labored on the farms of his uncles in Garland, Utah, and from 14 to 15, he worked as a wrangler at Hassel’s Ranch in remote Juab County. The next two years, Don worked as a rail dump hand on the surface of various Tintic District mines. After high school, he was employed as a machinist instructor at what is presently Hill Air Force Base. There he met his future wife, a radiant, young secretary supervisor, Elaine Dyer. Their in-person courtship was put on hold when Don joined the Navy. During training, he graduated from Diesel engine, welding, and submarine schools. He went on to serve as a Motor Machinist Mate aboard the submarines Sea Fox and Medregal, as they patrolled the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Pacific Oceans during World War II. After the war, Don and Elaine married in the Logan Temple. While earning degrees from BYU, University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Rutgers University, they raised 5 children. He was a principal research scientist at Campbell Soup Company, managing research facilities in New Jersey and California. His job took him all over the world as he helped his company transition into the age of computer process control. But his work wasn’t the only thing he was passionate about. While living in the east, Don and Elaine were instrumental in advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ in the southern New Jersey and Philadelphia areas. Their dedication and compassion made deep impressions on those they served alongside. We were blessed to learn many valuable lessons from Don that he accumulated during his 96 years of life, among them: never overpay for cottage cheese, be an early adopter of new technology, make wise investments (with both your time and money), and have an endless supply of crackers and peanut M&Ms for little visitors. Don was a man of many abilities. He excelled at cultivating his yard and garden and engineering solutions to household problems. Other skills included bargain hunting, pugilism, stocking our toolboxes, giving his grandchildren thrilling motorcycle rides through the neighborhood, and telling some of the best, most memorable stories any of us have ever heard. Don was a man who could build it, repair it, invent it, improve it, and do so with a positive attitude, frequently accompanied by his signature laugh and slap of the knee. Don’s singing voice was a gift. He used it to sing lullabies to his children—“There Came to My Window” was a favorite. His magnificent, resonant bass lifted the many choirs he participated in throughout his life. But perhaps no one was more delighted by his voice than the grandbabies to whom he would sing, “Dee Di Deedle” as they performed compulsory leg kicks as the tune’s tempo quickened. At 96, his powerful voice could still be heard ringing through the kitchen as he performed solo or sang along to recordings of his favorite vocalists—Marty Robbins, Gordon McRae, Jo Stafford, and Connie Francis, to name a few. Now Don is reunited with his wife and favorite duet partner, Elaine Dyer Bradley. He is predeceased by his loving parents Bigelow and Ethlyn Bradley, brother, Rulon Bradley, sister, Maudella Viertel, brother-in-law, Don Viertel, sister-in-law, Cleo Bradley, brother-in-law, Wallace Hansen, son-in-law, Ken Patton, and daughter-in-law, Sharon Bradley. He is survived by his sisters Faye Hansen and Carma Jane (John) Hafen; his children Bruce, Anne, Dionne, Bryan (Carol), and Mark (Tammy); 15 grandchildren; and 26 great grandchildren—each of whom he made to feel encouraged, special, and loved. A private, family-only graveside service will be held. We invite you to share your memories at www.bergmortuary.com.