Darrell Russell Allen

Darrell Russell Allen, age 69, passed away at the University of Utah Hospital Tuesday, April 26, after struggling with multiple organ failure for many months.

Darrell was born on December 20, 1952, to Whitmee Marvin and Erma Palmer Allen. He grew up in Salt Lake City, in a loving family of seven children, where he learned the value of hard work and loyalty to God and family. He graduated from Granite High School, where he performed in many plays and musicals, and later attended the University of Utah. 

He served in the Australia East Mission from 1972-74, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints under Presidents J. Martell Bird and Earl C. Tingey. He loved his service to the Lord and made lifelong friends. 

On June 30, 1978, he met the love of his life, Dee Ann Phelps, from Blackfoot Idaho. They were soon married in the Idaho Falls temple on December 15, 1978, and sealed for time and all eternity. Together they raised nine children—six sons and three daughters. They lived for 17 years in Kearns, UT and settled in Grantsville, UT for the last 25 years of his life. He partnered with his brothers-in-law in a road construction business, Superior Asphalt, where he taught his sons to work hard and prepare for life. 

Throughout his life he loved storytelling, John Wayne movies, Louis Lamour novels, hunting, his country, holiday traditions, and spending time with his family—spoiling them with manymemorable vacations. He had a thirst for learning and a love for sharing his knowledge and wisdom with his children.

His church callings were very important to him. He dedicated many years of his life serving as Young Men leader, Sunday School teacher, Cubmaster, and within bishoprics, high councils, and various other callings in the ward and stake,including his most recent and beloved calling as a service missionary in the Tooele Employment Center. He cherished his time as an Ordinance Worker in the Salt Lake and Oquirrh Mountain Temples. He especially loved his eternal callings as husband, father, and grandfather.

He is survived by his wife, Dee Ann, and their nine children: Adam (Havelah), Matthew (Lizzie), Daniel (Nicole), Serenity Harrington (Russell), Derek (Nikki), Destinee Galbraith (Spencer), Dalton (Thea), Austin (Katie Ann), Hannah Call (Peter), and 32 grandchildren. Also survived by siblings, Sylvia Olsen (Bob), Larry (Jeanette), Viola Knecht, Calvin (Katherine), and Barbara Gudmundson (Bruce). He was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Kamry Harrington, his parents, and his sister Ila.

The funeral and viewings will be held at the Grantsville Stake Center, 555 E. Durfee St.

Funeral: Saturday, May 7, 12:00 noon

Friday Viewing: May 6, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Saturday Viewing: May 7, 11:00 a.m.

Interment: Directly following funeral at the Grantsville Cemetery.

To listen to the audio recording of the service, please click on the link below:

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AtCh0oXA5o_J-RXjsMD9XcCGm4fh?e=4Nk7RU