David DeCon Pitcher

David DeCon Pitcher passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 10, 2019 at the age of 94 in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.  He was born on June 5, 1925 in Cardston, Alberta.  He met Arvilla Smith of Champion, Alberta. Their courtship would end with one simple question and they were married on September 14, 1950 in the Cardston Alberta Temple. They are parents of five children: Jolene (Jim) Paxman of Raymond, Linda (Rus) White of Bow Island, Ken (Deb) Pitcher of Lethbridge, David (Carol) Pitcher of Orem, Utah, and Maureen (Darcy) Barfuss of Hill Spring.

DeCon grew up in the Cardston area and attended school in Hill Spring where he was introduced to his life-long love of learning, singing inspirational songs, memorizing lyrics and the sport of basketball.  He was drafted into the Canadian Infantry before finishing high school in 1944.  He was discharged from the Infantry in 1946 and in the meanwhile completed his high school diploma during compassionate leave.  He then volunteered for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on a mission among the Maori people in New Zealand. Again later after retirement, served another mission with his favorite mission companion, Arvilla, in the Adelaide Australia mission.

DeCon and Arvilla dedicated their early family lives in a propane business which served a large rural area around Champion and later added a small farming business for their children to learn the benefits of concentrated work, provident living, and the value of education. DeCon’s service and life’s efforts made a difference in his community, church, and most importantly, his children and posterity. His valiant life and influence will be forever felt by 29 grandchildren, 55 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild.

DeCon was preceded in death by Arvilla in 2008, by his parents, David Allen and Elsie May Peterson Pitcher, and all 3 older brothers and 5 sisters.  We would like to express our thanks and gratitude to Dad’s many friends at the Seasons Gardens Retirement Community, where he lived and served for the last several years, and to all the doctors, nurses and care givers for his recent care at the Chinook Regional Hospital.

Friends and family may meet with the family on Friday, November 15, 2019 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Christensen Salmon Generations Funeral Home, 703-13 Street N, Lethbridge  or from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. prior to the funeral service being held on Saturday, November 16, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Copperwood Chapel, 9 Keystone Terrace W, Lethbridge.

Interment to follow in the Temple Hill Cemetery, Raymond.

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