William Edwin Berrett, 91, died November 30, 1993 in Provo, Utah.
Called "Ed" by his friends and family, he was born June 2, 1902 in Union, Salt Lake County, Utah, to Heber Hookway Berrett and Ellen Ellenor Walker. He married Eleanor Louise Callister in the Salt Lake LDS Temple, June 2, 1926. She preceded him in death, passing away after a long illness, December 4, 1989.Ed grew up on the family farm, attending Union Elementary School and Jordan High School, where he debated and played football. He attended the University of Utah where he was on the debate team for five years and graduated with high honors in 1924. He later received his LLB degree in 1933 and a Doctor of Laws degree from the same university. He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Brigham Young University in 1965. He was a member of the Utah State Bar since 1937 and was a member of the Federal Bar 1946-48. Ed has been listed in Who's Who in America since 1965. The Air Force awarded him the Distinguished Service Award for his work with the ROTC at BYU and the University of Utah Alumni Association presented him with their Merit of Honor Award.
Ed began his career with the LDS Department of Education in 1925, teaching at Roosevelt, Utah, Rigby Idaho, Kanab, Utah and Granite and West High Schools in Salt Lake City. He served as an editor for the department and authored many texts and manuals, including `The Restored Church', `Doctrines of the Restored Church', `Teachings of the Book of Mormon', `Teachings of the Doctrine and Covenants', and many others. He taught at the LDS Mission Home in Salt Lake City for many years in the 1930's and 1940's. He has been an editorial writer for the Deseret News, a member of the Sunday School General Board, counselor in the East Millcreek Stake presidency, and many other church callings. At the time of his death, he was serving as Patriarch in the Edgemont North Stake.
In 1943 he became special prosecutor for the United States Office of Price Administration and from 1946-47 he was Assistant United States Attorney in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Following private practice in Salt Lake in 1949 he accepted an assignment as professor of religion at Brigham Young University. In 1953 he was appointed vice president of BYU and vice administrator of church schools in charge of religious education (seminaries and institutes). He served in a dual capacity until 1963 when he was renamed administrator of seminaries and institutes of religion. He retired in 1970.
He is survived by three sons and one daughter, Verne R. Berrett and wife, Grace, West Valley City; Sharon Starks and husband, Eugene, Santa Ana, Calif.; Richard H. Berrett and wife, JoAn, Providence; and William Brian `Bill' and Berrett and wife, Karena, Blacksburg, Virginia; 20 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, 12 noon, at the Edgemont North Stake Center, 4300 No. Canyon Rd., Provo. Friends may call Friday evening 6-8 p.m. at Berg Mortuary, 185 East Center, Provo, and Saturday at the stake center, prior to services. Burial in the Provo City Cemetery.
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