Robert Keith Hedelius

6/26/1926 ~ 2/10/2023

Robert Keith Hedelius 96, passed away February 10, 2023 in Payson, Utah.

He was born June 26,1926, the first of 5 children born to Emil Robert and Mary Vilate Lutz Hedelius. Robert, Mary, (who survives) Rulon, Frank, and Carl who preceded him in death.

He attended school in Rexburg, Idaho and Ogden Utah graduating from Madison High School in Rexburg. Shortly after high school graduation he enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II.

Following a short military career, he was honorably discharged. He attended and graduated from the school of veterinary medicine at Washington State University. While there he met and married his wife Anna Jean Ott In August of 1951. Eight children were born to them. Leah Anne Kent, Mary Ellen Jackman, Alice Elaine Finlinson, Ryan Keith Hedelius, Eric Robert Hedelius, Diana Jean Gailey, Kathleen Vilate Hope and Charles William Hedelius. Ryan and Charles have preceded him in death and he is survived by his wife Anna Jean Hedelius.

He worked as a federal veterinarian which took him to Washington, Nevada, Utah and Tennessee. He settled in Ephraim, Utah in the fall of 1961 where he was responsible for animal disease in the southern part of Utah until his retirement. Following his government career, he operated a small animal clinic in Ephraim for many years.

He was an active member of the VFW serving many veterans and their families.

When his health failed in 2018 he went to live at the Bennion Veterans home in Payson, Utah where he passed away.

Services will be held in Ephraim, Utah on Friday, February 17th. A public viewing is planned that morning from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. at the LDS chapel on 450 N. 200 W., with a funeral to follow at 12:00 p.m. Interment with military honors will be in the Ephraim Cemetery. 

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