OREM -- A funeral will be Friday in Orem for Ivan J. Barrett, 89, a religion professor for 40 years at Brigham Young University, who died Aug. 16, 1999, of a heart attack at his Orem home.
A native of Mendon, Cache County, Mr. Barrett graduated from Utah State University and received a master's degree at BYU, where he was a member of the religion faculty from 1953 to 1993.He was presented many awards, including the Karl G. Maeser Teaching Award and Most Popular Teacher. In 1937 he became the first seminary teacher for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Nevada (Overton), and he was principal from 1941 to 1953 of the seminary in Hurricane, Washington County.
As a young man he served in the Central States Mission. He was a bishop and stake president at BYU; president of the Northwestern States Mission from 1964 to 1966; a special representative of the church with his wife, Minnie, in Israel; patriarch in three BYU stakes; and sealer in the Provo Temple. He directed many church history tours and trips to the Holy Land.
Mr. Barrett was a well-known authority on the life of the Prophet Joseph Smith. He wrote the textbook, "Joseph Smith and the Restoration," which was used in many religion classes and seminaries.
He also wrote many other books, including "Heroic Mormon Women" and "Young Joseph Smith."
Known for his musical and dramatic abilities, he had his own radio program in Cedar City in the 1940s and performed at numerous funerals, weddings and church services. And he participated in theatrical productions at BYU.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in the Sharon Stake Center, 545 S. 800 East, Orem. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Friday at the church. Burial will be in Orem City Cemetery.