John Alter

1935 - 2025

John Winston Alter, Jr.

1935-2025

Garden City, UT-John Winston Alter, Jr. (Papa), age 90, passed away peacefully on October 22, 2025. He was the first baby born in the New Year on January 1, 1935, in Salt Lake City, Utah. His twin brother Eddie followed just a few minutes behind.

John earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Utah and worked for Mountain Bell Telephone for most of his career. During that time, the family had the opportunity to live in several different states including Utah, California, Idaho, Colorado and Montana. John loved each place, but his heart was never far from his real love of Bear Lake, Utah! His parents, John Winston and Lois Kidder Alter, bought property on the Lake in 1947 when John was just a boy. Growing up he spent nearly the entirety of each summer there. Later, as a husband and father he took his own family there to instill fond memories of playing (and working!) at Bear Lake, and spending time as a family.

Family was so important to Papa. He bought a boat to spend many hours on the water with his kids – skiing, tubing, fishing, or just enjoying the ride! There were snowmobiles and motorcycles so the family could really make the most of the outdoors of Montana. And Papa always taught the importance of taking care of what we had and fixing what needed to be fixed. He was a man of integrity, honesty and hard work, traits he instilled in his children.

John also had many friends that he kept in touch with. We appreciate, in particular, all those in Garden City and the surrounding area who knew our dad and took such good care of him, especially when we couldn't always be there to do it ourselves. He loved going to the Mexican restaurant in town with his best friends every Thursday, hitting up Merlins for a shake, and attending his church there in Garden City. He loved God and Jesus Christ and enjoyed reading his Bible.

John is survived by his sister, Donna Peterson of Dinuba, California; his daughter Lisa (Wes) Purcell of Las Vegas, NV; son Michael Alter of Farr West, UT; son David (Kelly) Alter of Draper, UT; daughter Kristie (Terry) Slezak of Lake St. Louis, MO; 16 grandchildren and 42 great grandchildren.

John is preceded in death by his parents and his brother Cecil Edwin Alter.

There will be a memorial service on November 21, 2025, at 11:00am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1272 E. Walden Lane, Draper, Utah 84020. Interment will be at the Salt Lake City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please send donations to his church in Garden City – Village Church, Attn: Charlie Endicott, P.O. Box 342, Garden City, Utah 84028.