Harrison Glen Palmer

"Bud" was known by that nickname all his life, from the time his two year old brother couldn't pronounce either Harrison or brother - "Buddy" was the closest he could get to it. Bud was born Feb. 18, 1926 to Leslie Larson and Florelle Love Palmer in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada and grew up in Raymond, Alberta. Raymond at that time was a center of the sugar beet industry with a factory and fields of sugar beets around it. It was founded by Ray Knight, son of Jesse Knight, a Utah mining magnate with interests in ranching. He helped colonize southern Alberta and settled many Utahans in that area.

Bud, his parents, and older brother lived on a farm outside the town and then moved to Raymond when twin sisters joined their household. The town was centered in vistas of prairies, lakes, and mountains. Theirs was an extremely happy home. Father Les, being the postmaster, knew everyone. The children helped in the afternoons sorting letters and parcels, and so knew everyone, too. Bud did it happily, as he felt that chore was much better than hoeing potatoes, weeding gardens, or thinning or topping sugar beets.

Bud lived in tumultuous times - the Great Depression and World War II. At 18 years, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force, but as the war was winding down, he was transferred to the army where the need was greater. He spent 6 weeks in England waiting to be sent to the war zone, which at that time was the Netherlands where Canada was the liberating force. However, the European war ended before he was needed. He then volunteered for the Pacific war and one of the first of the troops sent home to prepare. The war mercifully ended and he was spared combat. Peace at last! Thus ended his military career.

On to higher education: Bud received a BA in history from the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Seeking greater financial gain, he went to the "far north" - Lake Athabassa to be precise - to work helping build the uranium factories and mills. The extreme cold weather and inaccessibility - there was no way in or out at that time except by float planes in the summer or ski planes in the winter - drove him south, all the way to Utah, where he attended Brigham Young University for 2 years, studying archaeology. Despite not graduating, he had a lifelong interest in archeology and history.

He came to Utah in 1952 and in 1953 married Jessie Palmer, the love of his life (it was mutual). Jessie was an RN from Edmonton, Alberta, where they had met. They truly enjoyed the gift of living in the two best countries in the world - Canada and the United States. They spent 63 good years together, supporting each other through all the trials and tribulations that life is all about.

Bud and Jessie were blessed with four children:

Sharon, who married Rulon Beesley

Timothy Glen Palmer, deceased, who married Tina Perry

Penny, who married Cary Evans

Lewis Palmer, who married Jaclyn Henrie

Bud is survived by 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, 2 sisters, Donna Spackman of Cardston, and Deanie Ursenbach of Calgary. He was predeceased by his big brother, Dr. LaMonte Palmer and sister Mona Macriss, and his cousin Bill Nalder, who was like a brother to him.

At this time we wold like to thank Rocky Mountain Hospice, especially Lisa and Mario, and nurses Betsy and Launa.

Bud was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He loved people and everybody was his friend. He had a great love also of knowledge, especially history. His wit and story telling were phenomenal. Bud enjoyed the beauties of nature and most of all loved visiting Waterton National Park in Canada, surrounded by the inspiring mountains and his beloved family.