Ogden W. Kraut, beloved and respected author, compiler, teacher, husband, father and friend, died July 17, 2002, shortly after his 75th birthday.
He was born June 21, 1927, to Joseph and Beatrice Kraut in Shelby, Montana. His only and younger brother, Dana, preceded him in death March 29, 2001.
Ogden was a convert to the LDS Church in his teens, attended BYU for a short time, worked at the Relief Mine in Salem, Utah, with Bishop John H. Koyle for nearly two years, served an LDS mission without purse or scrip, and was in the army in Germany. In his early years he developed a love of photography and was a scientific photographer at Dugway Proving Grounds for 24 years, retiring in 1990. He has had small print shops in both Salt Lake City and Salem, Utah, where he has printed hundreds of publications of his own as well as for other people.
For many years he was very active in the LDS Church, often holding several ward and stake positions at the same time. He loved his calling as Gospel Doctrine teacher, which position he held in various wards for about 20 years.
As much as he enjoyed spending an occasional weekend in the canyons and deserts taking pictures, his real love and mission was researching teaching and writing about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His book, "JESUS WAS MARRIED", self-published in 1969, was the first of 65 books he has written or compiled on the fullness of the Gospel. Over that 33-year period, thousands of people have visited him in person or on the phone, and he always made time for them no matter how busy he was. His quiet yet valiant character endeared him to many who consider him as one of their closest friends.
Ogden is the patriarch of a large extended family and is the proud father of eight children: Nola, Nina, Leslie, David and Kevin; Rebecca, Rachel and Michael.
He has left a priceless and on-going legacy in his numerous publications that will benefit countless people in their study of the Gospel.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, July 22, 2002, at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 East 10600 South, Sandy, with an informal gathering for family and friends Sunday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and one hour prior to services. Burial will be in the Salem City Cemetery