LeRue Elroy Thurston, 78, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma and former long time resident of Orem, Utah, died Wednesday, June 5, 1996 at the Silver Lake Care Center in Bartlesville following an extended illness.
He was born January 24, 1918 in Annabella, Utah to Edwin Elroy and Martina (Sorenson) Thurston. He was raised and educated in Richfield and Cedar City, Utah and graduated from Richfield High School in 1936. He then attended and graduated from Snow College in Ephraim, Utah in 1938. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Brigham Young University in 1949.Mr. Thurston was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served a mission for the church in Denmark from 1938 to 1939, when World War II necessitated his transfer to the Southern States Mission in Florida until his release in March of 1941. He enlisted in the United States Army in June 1941.
Mr. Thurston married Idell Warnock in the Manti Temple on May 26, 1942. During World War II, he served 55 months in the U.S., Europe, and the Philippines.
Mr. Thurston began work as an interviewer for the United States Employment Service in Manti, Utah in 1946. Later he transferred to the Job Service office in Provo, Utah, where he worked as Placement Interviewer, then Claims Supervisor, and finally Office Manager until his retirement in 1980.
Mr. Thurston was an active in his church and community. He held many church positions, including branch president, bishop, counselor in a bishopric, and High Councilor. He and his wife served an additional mission for the LDS Church in South Carolina in 1981-1982.
Mr. Thurston was an active member of Provo and Orem Chambers of Commerce, Rotary International, American Legion, Mountainlands Economic Development and Planning Council, Mountainlands Manpower Planning Council, Industrial Relations Research Association and Foster Grandparents Program of Utah County. He also served on the Advisory Committee for Utah Technical College, the Board of Directors of Utah Valley Industrial Development Association, and was past president of Help, Inc. and United Way of Utah County.
Mr. Thurston was an avid racquetball player and sports fan. He enjoyed travel, plays, and musical productions.
Survivors include one son, David L. Thurston of Riverton, Utah; two daughters, Ann Marie Johnston of Bartlesville, Oklahoma and Kathryn Thornock of Wenatchee, Washington; four brothers, Morris A. Thurston of Ventura, California; Doyle Q. Thurston of Provo, Utah; Bruce Thurston of St. George, Utah; and Robert V. (Bob) Thurston, of Bountiful, Utah; 15 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Idell; one son, Douglas; his parents; five brothers; one granddaughter, and two great-grandsons.
A viewing will be held Sunday, June 9 at 6-8 p.m. at the Berg Mortuary in Provo. A viewing and funeral service will be held Monday in the Orem Hillcrest 5th Ward, 440 East 800 South at 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. respectively. Interment will be in the Orem, Utah Cemetery.
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