Fred Christensen Dunford

The Life of Fred Christensen Dunford
March 4th, 1937 - April 23rd, 2025
Thursday, May 1st
Highland View Ward
2980 S 2790 E St, Salt Lake City, UT 84109
Viewing 9:30 - 10:45 AM
Funeral Services 11:00 AM
Imagine what your life would be like if your dad was a superhero.
Life would never be dull, always be safe and occasionally, full of excitement and adventure. Our husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend was just such a man - SUPER.
Fred Christensen Dunford was born to Lela Christensen and Isaac Dunford in the front room of the family's red brick house in Bloomington, Idaho, on March 4th, 1937. Lela said, "He was a beautiful baby with dark curly hair, big blue eyes and long lashes. Everyone says he was too pretty to be a boy. He was happy and good natured, he was content with anyone who wanted to hold him." He was "outgoing, talkative, and loved to hike and play ball." There is no doubt that his mother knew him well, because these same traits would last his entire life. He was an affable and happy soul right until the final hours.
In 1942, Fred's parents were done with rural life and moved to Provo, Utah. Fred's parents were madly in love, and that sentiment flowed throughout their household. Fred and his brothers leaned on those happy years throughout their lives. His mom said, "There was lots of love in our home. The family was close knit and the boys got along well together. Ike and I raised them like we were raised. They always had chores - mowing lawns, doing dishes, delivering papers, picking fruit and cleaning house." The family life didn't stay idyllic forever. Fred was just nineteen years old when his father passed away from kidney disease.
Fred graduated from Provo High School the following spring. He was on the Cheerleading team and loved to modify junky old cars with his friends - How Low can You Go? After High School, Fred was chosen to go to Boy's State and was offered a semester scholarship at Brigham Young University. He was also a cheerleader at BYU and loved the experience. He enjoyed all the aspects of college except going to class!
In September 1957, Fred was called on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in the Eastern States Mission. Fred liked his mission and had a lot of great stories about serving amongst the Amish and in rural areas of Pennsylvania. He came home from his mission for a few months with pneumonia, then finished out his service in the warmer climate of Phoenix, Arizona.
After he returned home, Fred followed his two older brothers to San Diego. He worked for a short time testing fuel transfer pumps for Douglas Aircraft. Fred had a lifelong love of airplanes. Between his school classes and working in the aircraft industry, he picked up the necessary skill and interest in technical drawing. He went on to work in the Drafting Department of Bear River Mining in Utah. Bear River Mining became part of the Kennecott Utah Copper Company. Fred was one of the original employees. He developed his career at Kennecott for most of the next forty years. He started out in Grading Calculations and Slump Testing and then moved on to operations, communications and facilities for all of the non-mining operations. One of the highlights of his career was being involved in putting together a new interactive visitors center with dioramas, including sound and video.
Through his best friend, Arlen Waters, Fred met Collene Sanford, the young and beautiful hair stylist and model from Springville, Utah. Arlen was dating Judy Woodward, Collene's best friend. The four of them were inseparable for years. It is an easy story to tell, when a handsome cheerleader-type and a gorgeous and ambitious redhead meet, magic happens. Fred and Collene were married in 1962. Over the next thirteen years he purchased a house on Louise Avenue in Millcreek, Utah (for under seventeen thousand dollars!), served in the church, advanced at work and had five children: Cherie, Layne, Michael Ann, Amy and Chad.
Fred Served in the Utah National Guard HQ & HQ Battery, 2nd Battalion 145th Artillery. From November 1st, 1959 to June 1st, 1966. He attended basic Training in Fort Ord California and Driver & Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He retired as a Chief Fire Direction Computer at the rank of E7 - Sergeant First Class. He always loved a big gun. He was quiet about it but he always knew how to secure a load and take care of his equipment. He made a pair of brakes on his tow vehicle last for over ten years. Hooah!!
Family time, especially dinner time and family trips were the core of this young family. The State and National Parks of Southern Utah and the beaches of California were favorite locations.The annual trips to the condos at Jeremy Ranch and East Canyon were always an event. They packed as much for California as they did for Jeremy Ranch. There are endless great memories of jumping off false cliffs, catching and losing lizards, getting rained out, catching crabs on the beach and accidentally driving a twenty-five foot camp trailer through the Watts Neighborhood of Los Angeles. There are innumerable photographs of it all. Fred was always into photography and has some real gems in the mix, along with a few Utah State Fair ribbons.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ was a big part of Fred's life. He served in the Bishopric of The Highland View First Ward and in the Stake Presidency of the Canyon Rim Stake as an Executive Secretary for two different Stake Presidents. These men and their families were a big part of Fred's life. He served with Mark Garrett, Lloyd Peterson, Arch Milzark, Dave Jackson, Don Gowans, Bud Jacobsen, David Lyons, Russ Booth, Kay Schwendemin, and Kay Bernson. He was also an active part of his Stake operations. Most of Fred's family even got the experience of running an offset press and collating a few subsequent editions of the Stake Telephone Directory. His participation in the construction of the Canyon Rim Stake recreational property at Snydermill was an awesome experience in hard work and consecration.
Fred taught his family the love of sports! He loved taking his kids to the Golden Eagles hockey games. He loved to get excited for the goals, the good shots, amazing defense and even the occasional fight! He regularly took his family to Utah Jazz basketball games, but without question, his favorite sport was BYU football! He went to many games and had season tickets through the 1995 season. He taught his family all the rules and plays. His blood was BYU BLUE even at the very end! Fred loved attending his grandchildren's sports games as well. He was a cheerleader throughout life and especially for his kids and grandkids.
One of Fred's hobbies throughout his life was working with wood. Sometimes it was woodworking and other times it was "wood-wasting". He was known to say, "The most useful thing that will come out of this shop is a toothpick." He worked on countless crafts and projects with Collene and enjoyed making bird houses and turning oddities on the lathe. He salvaged the wood from the cherry tree from his childhood home and made cutting boards and kitchen stands for each one of his kids. He and Collene loved their Pioneer-era house in Coalville. The house needed endless projects and repairs and he seemed to love all of them.
When Fred retired, he got bored very quickly. He needed to be around people. He took a job as a doorman at the Grand America Hotel, where he was truly in his element. He claimed that "he was never lower than the second highest earner on his shift" and "If you're going to give the keys to your Aston Martin to the doorman, you're not going to choose the young one, you're going to choose the old guy." He had notable experiences with NBA Athletes and a cool one with Neil Diamond. He loved to keep his tips in their original one and five dollar bills. If he ever paid for your soda or your lunch, he would pull out his ham-roll and count out the bills like a sultan.
When Fred was diagnosed with Altzhiemers, it was hard to read his emotions. Like he had done with so many other health issues, he just rolled with it. He was amazingly lucid and connected in his final days and hours. He recognized everyone, usually without even opening his eyes. We observed that almost every person who visited him, including the healthcare professionals, had special and tender moments with him as he made remarks and acknowledged their love and support.
Just as he was a cheerleader in college, he was a cheerleader in life. He lifted up those around him. He left that legacy for all of us. Be a cheerleader for one another. Be kind. Be generous. Be forgiving. Fred was not a perfect man, but he was perfect in a lot of ways. Like most Superheros, He did his best in life and the hope is that because of him - we may too.
Fred was preceded in death by his Parents Isaac and Lela, brothers Harold and Kent, and great-granddaughter Gwenyth.He is survived by his wife, Collene Sanford Dunford, brothers John and Scott and by his five children.
Cherie Powis (Shaun) with four children: Parker Powis (Haley - Cameron, Brock, Maddox, Taylor Mae), Paisley Stokes (Whit - Harley, Tucker), Preston Powis, Palmer Powis (Hannah - Marley, Gwenyth(D), Niko)
Layne Dunford (Jennifer) with two children: Isaac Dunford (Amanda - baby), Conner "Jamie" Dunford.
Michael Ann Wilson (Shawn "Spaz") with five children: Alex Ann Wilson, Eliott Wilson, Oliver Wilson, Ireland Garcia (Chandler - Jace, Summer) Ulijah Wilson.
Amy Landers (Chris) with five children: Teal Nelson (Tanner - Quinn, Bowie), Hayden Lopez (Theresa - Gabriel, Angelina, Elias), Aaleah Heninger, Jake - Lilliana) Mya Landers, Cole Landers
Chad Dunford (Kimberly) with five children: Maren Dunford Pardo (Nahuel), Caroline Dunford, Avery Dunford, Lila Dunford, Brynn Dunford