Paul Berrett

Dr. Paul Orin Berrett of Orem, UT passed away after a peaceful last day in his home, Wednesday, March 30, 2022.  He was born at his family home in Riverton, UT, March 1, 1928, to Orin and Nellie Roote Berrett. His father passed away when he was 8 years of age and his mother remarried (Mahonri Butterfield) when he was a teenager, giving him 8 new brothers and sisters who stayed close throughout the years.

Paul was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints throughout his life, serving in many callings including Young Men’s leader, Sunday School teacher, Stake Seventy, Bishop of a BYU student ward and Bishop’s counsellor in the Sharon 1st Ward, Orem. He also served for many years as an ordinance worker in the Mount Timpanogos Temple.

Paul attended the University of Utah after graduating from Jordan High School, intent on becoming an Electrical Engineer. The Bishop of his ward invited him to pray about serving a mission for the Lord and put his engineering education on hold. He did as the Bishop asked and received his answer to serve when he was about to tell the Bishop “no.” He was called to serve in the Western States Mission (Nebraska and Colorado), 1950 – 1952. With time he was assigned as a District President in his area. A dedicated and hardworking Sister Lillian Gerber was in his district. He admired her great love for people, and to make a short story even shorter, he made it a point once he returned home to Riverton to drive to Granger and meet her family. They briefly courted after Lillian’s return home and married in the Salt Lake Temple, September 19, 1952. Later they would serve again in the mission field, but as companions, in 1995 in the Mississippi Jackson Mission.

Paul graduated from the University of Utah in Electrical Engineering and in 1953 moved to Culver City, California to work at Hughes Aircraft. He obtained his Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Southern California. There in California they welcomed two little daughters into their home and served faithfully in the Church and helped in the open house of the new LA Temple in Santa Monica. Paul continued his education, teaching at the University of Utah and obtaining his Doctorate Degree in Electrical Engineering. He started work as a professor of Electrical Engineering at Brigham Young University in 1964 and worked there for about 30 years. Paul loved teaching and influenced thousands of lives to do well in life. He worked in research and consulting for the Atomic Energy Commission, NASA and the Naval Air Weapons Center in China Lake, CA and other research and development companies.

Paul taught that true science and true religion were one and the same. He was a lover of truth and a humble follower of Christ. He found the good in people and he and his wife opened their arms and their home to many, many individuals over the years.

Paul and Lillian are the parents of 8 children, 30 grandchildren and scores of great grandchildren.

Paul is survived by his children Shaunna (Sergio) Cuevas of Plain City, UT; Cynthia (Dave) Boyle of Monroe, LA; Roger (Diane) Berrett of Eagle Mountain, UT; Leon (Lori) Berrett of Riverton, UT; Bruce “Uncle Boo” Berrett of Orem, UT; Karen (Ric) Cleveland of Layton, UT; Mark (Rebecca) Berrett of Lehi, UT; and Doug (Shauna) Berrett of Orem, UT; and his brother Bernell (Carolyn) Berrett of Murray, UT; and his step brother Neil (Dorothy) Butterfield of Logan, UT.

He is preceded in death by his wife, his parents, and his sisters Maxine Bradshaw and Joyce Thorup and seven of his Butterfield brothers and sisters.

Viewing is from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6, at the Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary, 495 S State Street, Orem, UT. A second viewing will be held Thursday, April 7, between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. at the Sharon 1st Ward, 641 S 400 E, Orem, UT with funeral services following at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at the Orem City Cemetery.

Special thanks to all who made it possible for Paul to live out his life comfortably and safely in his own home – to his many kind caregivers through the years, especially dear Norma Maldonado and Maricela Rivas, and to Bruce, his son, for his daily love and care of his dad, encouraging him to keep up his strength and health the best he could.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the LDS Mission Fund.

Condolences may be expressed to the family on this page.

For those unable to attend, you may view the Services HERE

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