On Sunday, September 17, 2017, Donald Alfred Acerson began the next stage of his eternal journey. Don was born on April 13, 1930 to Alfred Otto and Cecilia Evalyn Lloyd Acerson in Riverton, Utah. His mother gave him the love of music, his father taught him to work hard, and together they gave him the joy of fishing and hunting and going on family outings.
Don was raised in Riverton, and loved climbing the Wasatch mountains with his cousins and friends. He was a Jordan High School Beetdigger, graduating in 1948. Don served 8 years in the Army Reserve.
In 1951, Don’s cousin, Norm introduced him to an outgoing and fun brunette named Birdie. They loved to dance at the Avalon and Salt Air, play canasta, played in bowling leagues with their friends. They married on May 27, 1952 in the Salt Lake Temple and started their family.
After living in Midvale and Riverton for several years, they moved to Green River, Utah in 1964 and continued raising their five children.
Don was a man of many talents and abilities and could fix anything. He worked hard and played hard. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, hiking, riding his motorcycle, his cars, and attending his children’s and grandchildren’s activities and sporting events. He owned several businesses and worked a variety of jobs, often at the same time. He sold insurance, worked at a meat processing plant, owned and operated Don’s Sanitation, managed many a gas station, cleaned the school, kept the town’s weather station, owned the Frosty Circle where the entire family worked, drove the school bus, and was a newspaper carrier, night marshal, uranium miner, farmer, carpenter, and handyman extraordinaire! He remodeled the family home inside and out with the help of his children and was always adding on to accommodate all of the family. He loved nuts, sweets, ice cream, fresh cream on homemade bread, and a traditional family breakfast of stuff-on-bread with extra sugar. At the end of a long work day, you would often find him asleep in his easy chair with a grandchild on his lap.
Don was known for his big hands and big heart. He loved and served his family and community in countless ways. He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, holding many positions and callings throughout his life. Don always did his home teaching and enjoyed his church callings.
Don is survived by his wife of 65 years, Birdie Thorum Acerson; children Steven (Diana), Jeffrey (Karen), Laura, Shawn (Paul), Claudia (Michael); along with 15 grandchildren (Brian, Teresa, Summer, Shannon, Alexis, Mark, Kimberly, Lisa, Scott, Marianne, Stephanie, Zackary, Mikayla, Nikolas, Rebecka), 9 great-grandchildren (Kylie, Riley, Audrey, Emry, Brynn, Ammon, Jacob, Emmalie, and one on the way), and siblings Delores and DaVoy (Darlene). His posterity brought him a great deal of joy.
On Friday, September 22, there will be a viewing and visitation at 11:00 a.m. at Broomhead Funeral Home, 12600 S. 2200 W., Riverton. Interment will be later that day at 1:00 p.m. at the Murray City Cemetery.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, September 23 at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Green River Chapel in Green River, Utah. The family will visit with guests and share memories at 10:00 a.m.