Byron Dean Walther

Byron Dean Walther passed away at home peacefully in Anchorage, Alaska on September 25, 2025. Just as ripples spread when a single pebble is dropped into the water, the actions of individuals can have far-reaching effects. As a husband, father, son, brother, friend, colleague, neighbor, ward member, and more, Byron had a lasting impact both on the people near and close to him, as well as the larger community. He will be both missed and dearly remembered!

Byron was born December 23, 1954, in Anchorage, Alaska to Harold Valentine and Beryl Hope Brand Walther. As the fifth of eight children, Byron always knew he was loved. He enjoyed outdoor activities, such as skating, skiing, and snowmachining. He participated enthusiastically in 4-H, Key Club, and the symphonic band.

Byron received an associate's degree from Ricks College. He proceeded to Brigham Young University where he received a bachelor's degree in International Relations. While studying at BYU, he met and fell in love with Lori Ann Larsen. After his graduation, they married on August 3, 1979 in the Salt Lake Temple. Byron went on to complete a Juris Doctorate at the California Western School of Law in San Diego. The couple returned to Alaska, where Byron passed the bar exam and worked as an attorney for 13 years. He then became a manager for the state of Alaska in the Child Support Services Division for 22 years. Byron was upright and honest in his professional dealings, dependable, and hardworking.

Family was so important to Byron. He loved his wife, Lori, deeply-they were true companions and best friends for their 46 years of marriage. Together they raised seven children. Byron was an active and dutiful father, involved in his children's education, extracurricular events, and church activities. As his children grew into adults and left the home, he continued to invest in these relationships, giving the precious gifts of time and attention. He treasured his role as grandfather to 28 grandchildren and made great efforts to be at important events in their lives, supporting and loving them.

Byron lived an active life, with a love of nature and the outdoors. He and Lori would regularly take their children on camping trips, even when those children were young. He also led many camping trips as a leader with the local scout troop. Byron was an avid and expert gardener, with amazing harvests of broccoli, peas, carrots, and more. An accomplished subsistence dip netter, he always knew how, when, and where to bring home salmon for the family. Byron learned the sport of tennis from Lori, and together they shared that with their children. (Eventually this hobby evolved into a fondness for pickleball.) To fully enjoy the Alaska summers, Byron regularly bicycled to work, and sometimes even extended this practice into the Alaskan winter! Later in life, Byron developed a love of hiking and backpacking, accumulating more than one hundred different excursions, in locales both inside and outside of Alaska. He shared these experiences with others: first and foremost, Lori, but also his children, grandchildren, family, and friends.

The cornerstone of Byron's life was his unshakeable faith in Jesus Christ, and that faith was evident in his actions and choices. From 1974–1976, Byron interrupted his undergraduate schooling to serve a full-time mission in the Canada Montreal Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he learned and spoke the French language. This selflessness and willingness to serve was a life-long pattern. Like his mother and father before him, Byron was a pillar of the Church in Alaska. He served in many different ways: with the youth, on the high council, as a bishop, in the stake presidency and in various other callings. In the early 2000s, he served in the Alaska Bush District and worked with small church congregations in remote communities spread throughout the state. For many years, he channeled his skills and passion for computers and all things digital to administer an expansive email list that highlighted achievements of Alaskan youth, important Church announcements, and the passings of beloved members of the community. In all of these capacities, Byron visited with, ministered to, and cared for the people around him, as he did his best to follow the example of his Savior Jesus Christ.

Later in his life, when dealing first with lymphoma and then interstitial lung disease, Byron's faith was a source of strength-for himself as well as for his loved ones. He was stalwart and valiant, and chose to be positive, seeing God's hand in the good times and in the bad times. Byron said, "By putting our lives in the Lord's hands, we learn that His timing is perfect, even when it diverges from our expectations. The path ahead may be uncertain, but I find comfort in knowing that as I trust in Him, He will guide me along the way."

Byron is survived by his wife, Lori Ann Walther; his siblings, Grant Walther, Dale Walther (Kay), Barbara Adams (Gary), Delores Gillson (Michael), Lorraine Christensen (Kent), Marlene Lewis (Rob), and Newell Walther (Jennifer); his children, Jason Walther (Anna), Chantelle Johnson (Olaf), Melanie Freeze (Kent), Leila Knowles (Jon), Natalie Sego (Mitch), Rebecca Rampton (Ryan), and Jonathan Walther (Lorena); and 28 grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 PM, Friday, October 10, 2025, at the Lake Hood Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 3340 West 40th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska 99517. An online broadcast of the funeral services will be available at this link: https://zoom.us/j/94102219863?pwd=vsyiNNaTMxQLDVRRjbSckWV28AVvaL.1

Following the funeral service, burial will take place at Angelus Memorial Park Cemetery in Anchorage.