Mourning the Passing of Friends: Forthcoming Funeral Services

“What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” ~ Helen Keller

Forthcoming funeral services are planned for the following friends from our community. Complete versions of these obituaries may be found in The Payson Chronicle and on our website at paysonchronicle.com.

Niles Persson

Niles Leonard Persson, 87, passed away December 20, 2016 with his family by his side.

Niles was born August 24, 1929 in Payson, Utah, one of five children.  He served in the Central States mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1949 to 1951. He is a graduate of the School of Pharmacy of the University of Utah.  Following his graduation, he served in a MASH unit on the front lines of the Korean War.

After the war, he returned home and married for time and all eternity the love of his life, Carol Dawn Kropf, in the Los Angeles California LDS Temple.  They have been happily married for over 60 years.  They settled in Madera, California where he owned and operated Niles Pharmacy for many years.  In 2005, he was recognized for being a 50-year active registered pharmacist by the California Board of Pharmacy.

Niles was known for his kindness, patience and spiritual humility.  He demonstrated these attributes as a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.  He also used these traits as the branch president and then the first Bishop of the Madera Ward for 13 years, leading the building of the church house where the Madera Wards still meet.  Niles created beautiful gardens that were enjoyed by many.  He loved traveling the world with his cherished wife throughout their lives.

He is survived and greatly missed by his wife, his children, Janee Persson and Dion Persson (Stephanie), along with five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, along with his older brother, Sheldon Persson.

A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, January 7, 2017 at 1 p.m. at the Walker Funeral Home in Payson, 587 South 100 West, Payson. A Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 7, 2017 at 12 p.m. at the Walker Funeral Home in Payson. Condolences may be sent to www.walkerobits.com