Dal Allen Lawson
June 1, 1940 ~ September 21, 2026
Dal Allen Lawson passed away Monday, September 21, 2026, at Ashford of Draper. Dal was born to Edith Orr and Douglas Parsons Lawson Sr. on June 1, 1940, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was the second of four boys: brothers Douglas Parsons, Robin Harold, and David Russell.
Dad grew up in the Rose Park area near the Salt Lake International Airport at a time when there was nothing but wide-open spaces “where 4 little cowboys could play.” He spent many happy days with his brothers playing anything with a ball and was a fierce basketball player, even at 5′ 8″. They enjoyed fishing, hunting, and chariot racing together, but he was a tap dancer at heart and could not walk across a flat surface without giving it a shuffle-ball-change. The thing he loved most, though, was spending time with his mother in the garden.
As a proud graduate of West High, he went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Utah (then promptly became a devoted BYU fan). His goal was to earn a law degree and go into foreign service, but he was discouraged by a school counselor and took another direction. He always said that was one of his biggest regrets in life. He went to work as a field agent for the IRS, and while working a one-man post in Logan, he completed a year in a Master of Accounting program at Utah State. After 32 years, he retired but could not stand to be idle, so he went back to work for Salt Lake County as an auditor. He served for many years in the National Guard and retired as a Master Sergeant.
Dad served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the northern part of the British Isles (Leeds, Manchester, and close to the Scottish border). The day after he got home from his mission, he met Janet Cundick in Auerbach’s and declared, “Marry me! We will learn to love each other later.” It was love at first sight.
Janet and Dal were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on Friday, the 13th of September 1963. Despite the ominous date, they went on to build a wonderful life together, having five “almost” perfect children: Shannon Dal (Julie), Carreen (Matthew), Brendun Morris (Leslie), Devan Douglas (April), and Ryan Patrick (Jill). They spent most of their lives in the Tooele County area, first in Erda and then in Tooele.
Dad worked hard and spent little time sitting around. There were always bikes to fix, a mower that needed a little attention, or dirt that needed tilling. When the weather was bad, he moved inside to paint walls from white to blue and back again. He was willing to do anything to make Mom happy until her death in 2018. As busy as Dad was, he found time to read every Louis L’Amour book published. There was nothing greater than a good cowboy story to him.
He was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he served in several bishoprics, but Ward Finance Clerk always was his niche.
Dal married Kathleen Moss Devine in 2019, and they spent many happy days traveling and supporting the BYU Cougars until his death.
Dal is survived by his children, 17 grandchildren, and 21 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Doug and David, his wife Janet, and daughter-in-law Julie.
There will be a viewing on Tuesday, September 29, from 6:30–8:00 p.m. at the Shoreline Ward Chapel, 1075 West 1100 North, Orem, Utah 84057. A funeral will be held in Tooele at the Deer Hollow Ward Chapel, 253 South 200 East, Tooele, Utah 84074, on Wednesday, September 30, at 12 noon, with a viewing beforehand from 10:00–11:30 a.m. There will be a light luncheon following the services, with interment later at Elysian Burial Gardens, 1075 East 4580 South, Millcreek, Utah 84117.
We would like to extend a special thank you to Kathy for her love, comfort, and care of our father, especially over the last few months. We would also like to thank Inspiration Home Health and Hospice, especially Jauni, Angie, and Arturo, as well as Dalton-Hoopes Funeral Home.