OBITS: The Spectrum 6 Jan 2005; St. George, Washington co., Utah text-formatted by W. David Samuelsen *********************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ut/utfiles.htm *********************************************************************** Source: St. George The Spectrum http://www.thespectrum.com Tod Brinkerhoff ST. GEORGE -- Tod Brinkerhoff, 42, returned to his heavenly home on January 4, 2004. After a 4 year battle with A.L.S, (Lou Gehrig's disease), he passed away at his home in St. George, Utah. He was born on September 5, 1962, to Dan and LuRee Marshall Brinkerhoff. He married Renee M. Dickinson in the Salt Lake City Temple on September 2, 1989. They were blessed with 4 children. Tod was raised in Fillmore and attended Millard High School. He enjoyed school and playing basketball. He trained thoroughbred race horses for his father. He began his own thoroughbred horse training business and enjoyed his time working with horses. His greatest joy in life was his children. He will be watching over them. He is survived by his wife: Renee, his children; Courtney, Carson, Caden and Cailee, his father; Dan Brinkerhoff and his brothers Jer'e, Gene (Realiane), Val (Kelly), and Joe (Tricia). He is preceded in death by his mother; LuRee and his brother Brad. The family wishes to thank IHC Hospice, especially Carolyn, Jan and Kymbra for their loving support and Care. A Viewing will be held Thursday January 6th 2004, 6-7 p.m. at Heideman Mortuary. Funeral Services will be Friday January 7th 2004, in Fillmore Utah at the LDS Stake Center 3rd west and Center. Interment will be held in Fillmore city cemetery. Kent M. Jensen ST. GEORGE -- Kent M. Jensen passed away quietly in his bed January 3, 2005. He was born in Fairview, Utah on August 19, 1929. He married Lucille Nelson on December 22, 1955 in Mt. Pleasant, Utah. He was a very kind and loving father and husband and will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Kent spent four years in the Air Force and graduated from B.Y.U. with a degree in psychology. He had been an owner of many clothing stores in Salt Lake City, Utah. He loved selling men's clothing and continued working at Dillards until his sudden passing. He was fun for everyone to be around and loved to joke and spend time reading and working in the yard. Kent was an avid golfer and especially loved golfing with his son, Jeff, and friend, Bob. He is survived by his wife, Lucille "Lucy"; his children, Michael, Jeffrey (Tina), Nicole and Jennifer; eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren; a sister, Blanche Phillips; and a brother, Gale (Susie) Jensen. Funeral services will be held Friday, January 7, 2005, 1 p.m., Metcalf Mortuary Chapel, 300 W. St. George Blvd. Visitations will be held Thursday, 6-8 p.m., and Friday, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., prior to services, both at the mortuary. Graveside services will be Saturday, January 8, 2005, 2 p.m. at the Fairview City Cemetery, Fairview, Utah under the direction of Metcalf Mortuary (435) 673-4221. Condolences may be sent through the Metcalf Web site at www.metcalfmortuary.com. Alvin Klein Al Klein, age 81, passed away at Desert Springs Hospital, Las Vegas, on December 24, 2004 due to complications following heart surgery. He was born June 10, 1923 in Rochester, NY to Adolph and Louise Klein. Survivors include wife Shirley, sons Charles (Lony) and Larry (Maria) of Las Vegas, NV; and Paul (Nan) of Cedar City; and daughter Karyn of Enoch; five grandchildren, Raul, Ana and Eric of Las Vegas; and Nicholas Jordan of Cedar City. He was predeceased by his parents. He was a 68 year member of the Boy Scouts of America, a retired radio/television engineer from WVET and WROC in Rochester, NY, a former employee of the National Park Service in Utah, an elder and lay preacher for the Presbyterian Church, a board member of the Iron County Care and Share, an RSVP volunteer with Valley View Hospital Auxiliary and a World War II veteran of the Signal Corp. in Europe. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 15, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. at the Community Presbyterian Church, Wedgewood Lane, Cedar City. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his memory to: Cedar Breaks District, BSA, Cedar City, Iron County Care and Share, or Community Presbyterian Church. Leo A. and Dena Staboli Lauren ST. GEORGE -- Leo A. and Dena Staboli Lauren died Sunday, January 2, 2005, in St. George, Utah, due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He was born June 1, 1952 in Andros, Greece, a son of Angelos and Maria Papadimitriou. Leo was raised and educated in Greece, where he graduated from high school. After graduation, Leo joined the Greek Army and was stationed near Athens, Greece, where he served two years in the Communications Division. In 1979, Leo moved to Southern California, and he began pursuing an education in the restaurant and catering business, graduating with an Associates Degree in Culinary Arts. Leo and Dena met in San Jose, California, and they partnered in opening Leo's first restaurant, "Leo's Diner," in the Silicon Valley. They later opened "Calvada's," a destination resort and restaurant, in Pahrump, Nevada. They were married in Las Vegas, Nevada, on January 20, 1986. In 1990, they moved to St. George, Utah, to start their family. Dena was born April 14, 1957, in Athens, Greece, a daughter of Kyriakos and Asimina Stella Louvaris Staboli. She was raised and educated through high school in Athens. In 1980, Dena moved to Ogden, Utah, where she attended Weber State University. She later moved to Southern California and graduated from the University of Santa Barbara with a Masters Degree in Pharmacology. When Leo and Dena moved to St. George, Leo became one of the original founders and managers of "Scaldoni's Restaurant." He was later employed for eight years at "Andelin's," and in 1998, he started "Leo's Ideal Catering." He was also the owner of the "Cosmopolitan Restaurant and Banquet Hall" in Silver Reef. Dena was always a wonderful support to her husband in all of the family business ventures. She was gifted in mathematics and offered great assistance in the businesses, as well as being able to help her daughters in school. She was always encouraging her daughters to achieve scholastically. Dena was known as a sensible, sustaining, and loving wife and mother. Leo and Dena were devout members of the Greek Orthodox Church. Leo was a wonderful husband and father. His entire life revolved around his wife and daughters. Leo loved everyone and was loved and revered by his friends and community. He was an avid fan of the NBA. Those who knew Leo describe him as an excellent cook, and a loving, caring, genuine, and funny guy who was "one-of-a-kind." Leo and Dena are survived by their daughters, Louise S. Lauren and Dominic S. Lauren, of St. George, UT. Leo's other surviving family members are his: mother, Maria; brothers, Georgios, Yiannis, and Nikos Papadimitriou; and sister, Demetra Papadimitriou. Dena's other surviving family members are her: father, Kyriakos Staboli; and cousins, Helen Stravopodi, Demetri Stravopodi, and Efrosini Stravopodi. Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 8, 2005, at 10:00 a.m. at the Spilsbury Mortuary Chapel, with Father Jon C. Emanuelson officiating. There will be a visitation Friday, January 7, 2005 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., with a Trisagion Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. at Spilsbury Mortuary. Interment will be at the St. George City Cemetery. Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S. Bluff St., St. George, UT, (435) 673-2454. For those who desire to contribute funds to aid Louise and Dominic, the family has set up a fund called the "Benefit Fund for the Lauren Children," C/O Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, 674 42nd St., Ogden, UT 84403-2851. If you have questions regarding the fund, please call Father Jon at (801) 941-0992. Friends and family are invited to offer their condolences at www.spilsburymortuary.com. Ruth M. Seegmiller CEDAR CITY -- Our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, Ruth M. Seegmiller, age 82, returned to her Heavenly Father on January 4, 2005 at her home in Cedar City, UT surrounded by her husband and family. Ruth was born in Enoch, UT on January 30, 1922 to Ellen Thurston and Robert Gunn Munford. She married her high school sweetheart, Grant C. Seegmiller on October 11, 1941 in the St. George Temple. Ruth grew up in LaVerkin, UT and graduated from the Washington County School District. She attended one year at the BAC in Cedar City. She was a member of the LDS Church serving as Sunday School Teacher, Relief Society Teacher and board member, and worked at the Data Center. She loved to sing in the ward choir. She loved to cook, and many neighbors and friends enjoyed her homemade bread and other goodies. She enjoyed tending her grandchildren and great grandchildren, who will miss the time spent with Grandma Seeg at her home and on the mountain. She was a beautiful lady, who spent many hours at the Utah Shakespearean Festival as an usher. She also enjoyed reading and quilting, and playing golf with Grant at the Bloomington Country Club. She worked in the banking industry for many years and retired from the Cedar City branch of First Interstate Bank. Survivors include her husband Grant C. Seegmiller, Cedar City; daughters Sherie S. (Jesse D) Prisbrey, Kanarraville, Lynne S. (Mike) Slack, and Janet S. (Mike) Nelson, Cedar City; sisters Norma Sanders, LaVerkin, Ellen Woodbury, Provo, and Elva White, Jerome, ID; nine grandchildren, twenty three great grandchildren and one greatgreat grandchild. Preceded in death by a sister Fern LaThorste and a grandson Jesse David Prisbrey. Special thanks to the Home Health Care givers Dawn Jones, Shirleen Chaffee, and others who assisted Ruth and allowed her to stay at home. Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 8, 2005 at 11:00 am at the Cedar City West Stake Center. Friends may call Friday evening from 6:00 - 8:00 pm and Saturday morning from 9:30 - 10:30 am, both viewings at Southern Utah Mortuary. Interment will be in the Cedar City Cemetery. Condolences may be sent through our Web site at www.southernutahmortuary.com.