Homer Duncan Capener
November 14, 1935 ~ October 31, 2021
Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Homer Duncan Capener of Pleasant View UT, returned home to our Heavenly Father on October 31, 2021 after a brave battle with complications from Covid-19 and pneumonia.
Homer was born in Tremonton, UT, on November 14, 1935, to Russell Cleveland and Mildred Strong Capener, the fifth of eight children. He grew up in Riverside, UT, and attended Bear River High School, where he served as seminary president and student body president, and was chosen as an enrollment candidate by his beloved classmates.
Before and after serving two and a half years of missionary service for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Netherlands, he served in the Army Reserve for seven years. He loved the Dutch people dearly and was called to be branch president, which was both humbling and challenging for a young elder missionary, but it changed his life forever. Upon returning home, he switched his college major’s major at Utah State University from auto mechanics to family life education, psychology, and sociology. He received his BS from Utah State University. There he met the love of his life, Betty DeLeeuw. They were married and sealed for all eternity in the Manti Temple of Latter-day Saints on May 27, 1960, and celebrated 61 anniversaries!
During his time at Utah State University, he was active in the Sigma Gamma Chi Fraternity and Delta Phi. He was President of the Kappa Delta Sociology Fraternity and President of the Student Utah Education Association and Representative for Utah at the National Education Convention in Los Angeles, CA. While in the state of Utah, he worked in the student union building and was the university’s night manager.
Upon graduation, he pursued a lifelong desire and was hired to teach a seminary for Latter-day Saints Church of Jesus Christ. He was an instructor and director at Bancroft, ID. After two years, he taught at Brigham Young University for further education while he was doing his Masters degree. During this time, he and Betty worked as Head Residents in three dormitories in the Heritage Hall on the BYU campus. It was a great experience. After earning his MS from Brigham Young University, he was promoted to principal and lecturer at Highland High School Seminary in Pocatello, ID, for two years, then to the LDS Institute of Religion at Idaho State University. During that time he served as a bishop in the 6th Ward, Idaho State University Stake. Another transfer took him to Ogden, UT, to the Institute of Religion at Weber State University, his favorite place! He was a faculty advisor to the LDSSA (Latter-day Student Association) and loved working with select students and staff. Many wonderful years followed, teaching classes, advising students, and participating in their diverse activities; he also continued his PhD pursuit all the time at Brigham Young University and in summer courses.
He was called to serve on the Mount Ogden Stake High Council of Latter-day Saints for several years and then was called to serve as a counselor in the Mount Ogden Stake Presidency, a very special calling! He was directly involved in the stake charity chicken farm, where he helped turn chickens, deliver eggs, and clean chicken coops. He dedicated his life to serving God, his family and friends … no job was too big or too small … he was always ready to serve!
He received the Master M-Men Award and his Eagle Scout Award. He served with the Lake Bonneville Counsel, Boy Scouts of America. He was called by President Monson to serve as a writer on the Correlation Executive Committee of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In 1978 his family moved to Pleasant View, UT, and had the opportunity to serve as bishop of the 4th Ward of Latter-day Saints Pleasant View Ward of Jesus Christ. Such a blessing in his life! Upon retirement, he was called on a mission with Betty to serve as the CES administrator in the Hawaiian Islands for three wonderful years. Upon completion of his mission, he was called to serve as Ordinance Worker at the Ogden Utah Temple and later appointed Temple Sealer by President Henry B. Eyring of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He saw it as a blessing, a choice over anyone else! He loved serving in the temple!
During the renovation of the Ogden Temple, he and Betty were called as missionaries for four years to serve in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake City; Meet and greet people from all over the world while visiting Temple Square. He made so many friends by answering their questions about the Church and offering tours whenever and as needed. Another electoral experience for him and Betty to serve together.
Traveling with him was so much fun … he loved traveling the world and he and Betty recently visited India, Egypt, the Holy Land, Italy and many European countries, Greece, China, Thailand, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, South Africa, the Netherlands, the British Isles, Peru, the Amazon, the Hawaiian Islands, Samoa, Tahiti, the Caribbean and Canada, to Nova Scotia and great views of New England’s fall foliage!
He loved Pleasant View, the outdoors and this beautiful world. Working in his yard and garden brought him so much joy and peace. He loved sharing his bountiful harvest of walnuts, grapes, fruits and vegetables with everyone!
Above all, his constant love and concern for Betty and his five wonderful children and their great spouses Kevin and Bodawn Capener, Jeri Lyn and Ted Campbell, Kalvin Capener, Jana Lee and Scott Hurst as well as Julie Ann and Jeffery Rupp; his 24 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren are his greatest loves and the eternal treasures of his life!
His parents preceded him in death; his sister Winona Gardner; his brother LaMar; and his grandson Klinton.
The memorial service will take place on Saturday, November 13, 2021 at 12 noon at the Pleasant View Stake Center Chapel, 2975 North 1000 West. Friends can attend church with family on Saturday from 9:30 am to 11:30 am. Burial, Riverside Cemetery, where military honors are given. Services entrusted to Lindquists Ogden Mortuary.
The services are streamed live and available by scrolling to the bottom of Homer’s obituary page at www.lindquistmortuary.com for condolences.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Homer Duncan Capener, please visit our flower shop.
Published by Lindquist Mortuary – Ogden on November 10, 2021.
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