Our beloved father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, Clyde Frank Wilson (Junior), age 88, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 22, in Evanston. Junior was born in Randolph, Utah, the son of Frank Clyde and Iva Eunice Hayward Wilson. He married Ruby Elaine Groll, the love of his life, on Feb. 19, 1948. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Logan, Utah, Temple.
Seven children were born to this union: Connie, William, Barbara, Steven, Cindy, June and Janet.
Junior loved the life of a cowboy. He was still working cattle horseback at the age of 82. He loved rodeos, and he was a saddle bronc rider as a teenager.
Woodruff honored him with a belt buckle for 23 years as the pickup man at its Fourth of July rodeo. He also picked up for the Rich County Fair and rodeo for 16 years. He loved riding horses, watching rodeos, western movies and the Utah Jazz basketball team.
He loved his family and enjoyed getting together. In 2011, he represented Rich County in the National Day of the American Cowboy at the Days of ’47 Celebration in Ogden, Utah.
Junior was very friendly and loved visiting with people. He had an amazing sense of humor and loved to tease and be teased. He was a hard worker and was always grateful to his employers, especially Rees Land & Livestock. He enjoyed his morning visits at the station with so many friends. He was a great cowboy, but an even better dad and grandpa.
He is survived by his sons and daughters: Connie Lyn Giadiano of Evanston, William Clyde of Randolph, Utah, Barbara Ann (Kim) Mortensen St. George, Utah, Steven Frank (Marlene) of Randolph, Cindy Donett (Jim) Gregory of Randolph, June (Mickey) Cornelison of Evanston, and Janet Hellstrom of Randolph; 26 grandchildren; 75 great-grandchildren, with one on the way; sister, Eunice Warren; brother, Jay (Kathy) Wilson; brother-in-law, John (Laura) Groll; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; daughter-in-law, Connie Jean Wilson; son-in-law, Charlie Hellstrom; brothers, Ross, Sheldon, Tom, Max and Bill; sisters, Uarda, Darlene, Verlyn and Margaret; granddaughters, Sherrie and Kristy Pierce; and a great-grandson, Austin Pierce.
Funeral services will be held at noon on Monday, Jan. 27, in the Randolph LDS Chapel. There will also be a viewing that same day from 10:30-11:45 a.m., and also from 6-8 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 26, at the Randolph LDS Chapel.
Interment will be in the Randolph City Cemetery beside his wife, Ruby Wilson.
Online condolences can be made online at www.crandallFHEvanston.com.
