Born on February 23, 1943, Don lived a life defined by faith, service, and an extraordinary dedication to his family and community. From his earliest years, he learned the value of hard work and the importance of helping to provide; when he was just five years old, his father began taking him along to work, instilling a lifelong work ethic that never wavered.

As a young man, he answered the call to serve full-time for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the West German mission, where he developed a lifelong love for missionary work. Years later, he had the privilege of serving a second mission alongside his cherished wife, Mary Liddiard, in the Washington DC South Mission, where they specialized in military relations. Serving in the Church and working in the temple brought Don great joy.

His patriotism was deeply rooted. Don honorably served his country as a Special Agent of the U.S. Army Intelligence within the Utah National Guard. His commitment to duty and honor extended into his civilian life through his lifelong devotion to the Boy Scouts of America. An avid scouter from his youth, he proudly attended the National Scout Jamboree and spent the rest of his days truly living the Scout Motto to “Be Prepared.”

Don was a passionate educator and mentor who dedicated his career to shaping young minds and futures. He earned a Bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University, and a Master’s degree from Northern Arizona University, applying his knowledge and compassion across decades of service. He worked at Snowflake High School and Springville High School, impacting countless students as a dedicated teacher, coach, and guidance counselor.

To support his growing family during the summers, Don embraced the great outdoors. He worked for many years in the National Parks of Arizona and Utah, fighting forest fires and maintaining the beauty of the parks he loved so dearly. His deep appreciation for nature extended well beyond his work; Don was truly at peace when he was outside. Whether he was fishing, taking walks in the canyon with Mary, or strolling along the shores of Utah Lake, he found joy in our beautiful earth. At home, he cared for his backyard bird feeders, and he possessed a rare, sharp eye for spotting wildlife wherever he went.

Don’s greatest legacy is his family. He is survived by his loving wife, Mary; their five children: Karen (Keith) Decker, Vincent (Mariann) Liddiard, Steven (Alisa) Liddiard, Jon (Merrilee) Liddiard, and Matthew (Hayley) Liddiard; as well as 20 grandchildren, their spouses, and 9 great-grandchildren, all of whom will miss their superhero deeply.

The family extends their deepest gratitude to the staff at Springville Ashford Memory Care. Thank you for your compassionate care, your tenderness, and for truly loving our dad during his final months.

Funeral services are under the direction of Wheeler Mortuary. Services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel located at 1965 East Canyon Road, Springville, Utah. Viewings and visitations will also be held at the chapel on Friday evening, June 5, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, and again on Saturday morning prior to the service from 9:30 to 10:30 am. Interment will follow the funeral service at the Provo City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggest performing acts of service in Don’s honor, keeping his spirit of patriotism, scouting and faith alive.

Funeral Services are under the direction of Wheeler-Sundberg Funeral Home of Springville, 801-489-6021. Condolences may be expressed to the family at wheelermortuary.com.