Kenneth Putnam Marshall

Kenneth Putnam Marshall passed away in Logan, Utah on November 1, 2023.  He could map anything, design anything, build anything, repair anything, and tell you how it used to be done.  He seemed to be able to remember and retrace every road he’d ever traveled.  He endured adversity with courage, solved problems with alacrity, and persisted through obstacles without complaint.  He enjoyed the humor in everyday situations.  He lived a long, full life and saw the fruits of his labors.

He was born June 18, 1931 in Los Angeles, California to Kenneth Irving Marshall and Helen Mary Putnam.  He was raised working hard with his brother on the family orange grove in Redlands, California.  He joined the US Navy in 1951, serving as a dental assistant aboard the USS Briareus.  He was a man who could do just about anything, and did just about everything; surveying land, tunnels, and aqueducts for the Metropolitan Water District, mapping the state of California with his father under contract to the US Geological Survey, driving a truck, and in his spare time running a fiberglass shop out of the garage.  He was an accomplished marksman, gunsmith, and furniture builder.

He married Lessie Louelle Watson on 25 June, 1952, with whom he had three daughters.  They were married 17 years, then divorced.

He joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 1961.  This became a lifelong commitment, an assured and practical faith, and a source of comfort and joy throughout his life.

He was sealed for eternity in the Los Angeles temple to Dorothy May Fulstone on 31 March, 1973.  She came with two sons from a previous marriage, whom he adopted as his own.  He and Dorothy shared life’s heartaches, rejoiced in each other’s triumphs, and celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary this spring.

They moved to Richmond, Utah in 1975 and they lived there for the rest of his life.  They purchased The Clean Spot, a janitorial supply store, expanded it, and ran it side-by-side for about 15 years.  When the kids were raised, he supported Dorothy as she went back to college and then ran her own business.  He sold the store, couldn’t stand to retire, started another business and ran it for several years.  He and Mom traveled together on business all over the western United States. 

Dad finally retired and made it stick at age 75, but his idea of fun was to do another kind of work.  He taught himself how to weld metal and built many useful implements, gates, racks, and fences until he was too old to stand up in the shop anymore. 

Dad viewed any price tag as an invitation to negotiate.  He’d spend fifteen minutes dickering with a store owner while the family wandered down the block, too embarrassed to watch.  But he’d usually come away with a deal.  The family would like to thank Ralph and Bart Roylance for not throwing him out of the Smithfield Implement store (on multiple occasions!), and Phyllis for always finding what he needed.

While stationed in Charleston, South Carolina, he managed to get himself certified to drive every class of vehicle on the naval base, and if you’d have put him in the cockpit of the space shuttle, he told you to go ahead and launch; he’d learn to drive it as he went along.  The family would like to thank the lady at the Driver License Division for revoking his driver’s license shortly after his 90^th birthday.  He never forgave you, but we’ll always be grateful!  Thank you.

We thank his favorite doctor, Dr. David Beckstead of Preston, Idaho, for working with him in an understanding way for many years.  We sincerely thank the members of the Richmond City Creek Ward for their many acts of kindness and expressions of love and concern; Dad loved you!  We also thank the staff of the Veteran’s Administration and Sunshine Terrace Memory and Hospice Care for their skill and compassion during the final stages of his journey.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his youngest daughter, Kenette Marie Self, and his daughter-in-law Aimee Marshall.  He is survived by his wife, Dorothy May Fulstone Marshall, brother Robert (Nanette) Marshall, daughters Dorinda (Michael) Davis, and Adele (Bruce) Lingenfelter, sons James (Julianne) Marshall and Christopher (Aimee) Marshall, and by numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.

Dad didn’t enjoy funerals, didn’t attend them, and didn’t want to inflict one on his friends and neighbors.  The family will have a quiet service.  Interment will be in the Richmond City Cemetery.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at webbmortuary.com

Services will be streamed live and can be viewed by clicking on the following link:

https://youtube.com/live/VRVbIHko9k0?feature=share