St. George, UT - Harold William Norton passed away August 16, 2012 at his home in St. George, Utah, from complications resulting from a fall. He was 99 years old.

Born July 31, 1913, in Logan, Utah, to Elvin Jensen Norton and Martha Amanda Barron Norton, Hal was the sixth in his family of eight children. He was the last survivor of his family, having been preceded in death by all of his siblings. He grew up in Salt Lake City with close connections to the University of Utah where his father was the registrar. In 1935 he graduated from the University with a BA in Botany. He was working for the Forestry Division of the Department of Agriculture at Desert range in Millard County when he met his love and future wife, Ina Smith, at a church activity in Milford, Utah. He continued his courtship of her by letter when he returned to the University for further studies and when he ultimately accepted an offer to work for the federal government in Washington D.C. in 1937. His letters were charming, and when he proposed to her by mail, she accepted. They were married in Washington on May 16, 1938. The following year they traveled back to Utah where they were sealed in the Logan Temple.

Hal worked for the Department of Agriculture in Washington until 1942, when he accepted a job with the Department of the Interior in Grass Range, Montana. The people there were wonderful but the living conditions were primitive. After a terrible blizzard, he sent his pregnant wife and daughter back to Milford, and followed them shortly afterward. They were to live in Milford for 52 years. Because of wartime need of railroad workers, he hired out on the Union Pacific Railroad in May 1943, where he worked for 35 years until his retirement in 1978. In 1995, after having spent a few years dividing their time between Milford and St. George, Hal and Ina sold their Milford home and moved to St. George full time.

Always an active and faithful member of the LDS Church, Hal held many positions throughout his life. As a young man, scouting was an important part of his life. He was meticulous and conscientious in everything that he did and brought those traits to every calling he had. In 1981, following their retirement, Hal and Ina served a year-long mission for the church in Oakland, California. He especially loved his service in the St. George Temple. Up until a few weeks before his death, he faithfully fulfilled his ward calling.

Hal was quietly remarkable in many ways. He had a life-long love of learning and a prodigious memory, often surprising others with a fact or poem learned long ago in his youth. He had a charming way of describing things and loved puns and funny stories, told at length. He could figure out how to fix anything, from installing a furnace to plumbing and wiring a house. His daughters, relying on his abilities, would often ask him to please bring his tools when he came to visit. Most important was his character and integrity. He has often been described as "the most honest man I know". Loving and devoted to his family, he continued to serve his wife until the final weeks of his life.

He is survived by his wife of 74 years, Ina S. Norton, of St. George, and his three daughters: Renee Norton, St. George, Jean (Doug) Wright, Napa, CA, and Barbara (J.L.) McCarrey, Anchorage, AK. At the time of his death, Hal had 9 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

The family would like to give their most heartfelt thanks to Dixie Hospice, who, in the few days they had with Hal, were loving and deeply comforting.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 24, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at the Bloomington Hills 1 ^st Ward LDS Chapel, 1130 East Brigham Road, St. George, Utah. A visitation will be held from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m., prior to services at the chapel.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 25, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at the Milford LDS Chapel, 748 West 600 South, Milford, Utah. Interment will follow in the Milford City Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Metcalf Mortuary, (435) 673-4221.