Dema Alger Randall

Aug. 28, 1932 – July 1, 2022

Dema Alger Randall passed from this life onto the next on July 1, 2022, at her home. She was just eight weeks shy of her 90th birthday.

Dema was born on Aug. 28, 1932, in Enterprise, Utah, to Orlas Alger and Delma Fish, the fourth of nine children. During the Great Depression, Dema’s family moved to Saticoy, California, where her dad was able to find work at some fruit and nut orchards. Dema loved living in California, and she spoke of the delicious tamales that as a kid she stole from the worker’s lunchboxes.

Later in life, after realizing that the workers would come back to no lunch after working in the heat all day, she felt really bad. She still loved those delicious tamales though!

As a young girl Dema spent a lot of her time filling notebooks practicing her handwriting, she still had very neat handwriting until the end of her life. Dema was always very particular about her looks, and never went anywhere “undone.” In her younger years, she pierced her little sister Evelyn’s ears as well as her own.

After living in California, their family moved to Brigham City where Dema’s dad got his pilot’s license and started the mosquito abatement, which eventually inspired her to get her own pilot’s license. Eventually, they moved to a farm on the Southern Utah desert in Beryl where her sister Afton later died. In 1947, Dema’s family moved back to Enterprise, Utah. In her teen years, Dema and her best friend, Joe Ann spent a lot of time at Foster’s Cafe and pool hall.

Two handsome boys started to notice that and began offering the friends a ride home. From then on, the four spent a lot of time together going on many fun dates. Later, Harry Randall and Dema, as well as Wendell Hunt and Joe Ann, were married in a double ceremony at the courthouse in Pioche, Nevada, on June 9, 1950.

The friends always spent their anniversaries together, and after both of their sweethearts passed, Joe Ann continued to visit Dema in her last years. Dema and Harry had six children. Their marriage and children were sealed to them in the St. George Utah Temple on July 25, 1965. Throughout their marriage, Dema and Harry lived on farms in Beryl, in Enterprise and in St. George.

Every morning, Dema made a full spread for breakfast for her family, something they all remember fondly. In 1974, Dema’s second daughter, Sandra died from Cystic Fibrosis. She often spoke of her and how heartbreaking it was to lose a child, especially in that way and she continued to donate to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation throughout her life.

Dema is an example to everyone that they can follow their dreams. Some of her accomplishments outside the home include painting. She gave away many beautiful oil paintings and even took a class from Del Parsons. Dema loved to fish and hunt. In 1968, she shot a buck that holds the world record brow tines for mule deer. A few years ago, Sportsman’s Warehouse rented her trophy to take on a two-year tour. In 1973 Dema earned her private pilot’s license. Only 2% of licensed pilots are women. She flew for pleasure as well as to travel to Harry’s horse races.

On one of their trips to a race, they hit a bad down draft on take-off, and she couldn’t gain altitude. She found a wash nearby and belly-landed in an attempt to keep everyone safe. Her instructor later told her that she handled that situation as well as any experienced pilot. Everyone escaped the crash without major injuries, however, that was the end of Harry accompanying her on flights. A few years ago, she was able to go on a flight in a plane similar to the one she flew herself.

Louise Vickerman, who volunteers with Angel Flights wanted to be her pilot to give a fellow female pilot her last flight. She loved it! Dema always had a love of adventure and loved to visit National parks and camp with her daughter Karen. She had a love of collecting and antiques and frequented antique stores, the D.I. and dumps with friends and family to look for treasures like old toys, dishes, interesting bottles and tools.

Many of her grandchildren can remember the Beanie Baby craze and would accompany her early in the morning for the opening of stores to make sure she got the ones she needed to complete her collection.

Dema loved animals of all kinds, and always had a dog as a companion. Any dog that came home with Dema hit the jackpot! She often fed stray cats and was very particular about the way they were fed. A few were hit by a car, and she made sure they had a dignified burial in her backyard.

She loved to watch comedies on TV and had a contagious laugh and would often laugh until she cried. She had a wonderful sense of humor. She was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and made church attendance a priority and enjoyed serving in the library.

She was preceded in death by her eternal companion, Harry Randall; her daughter, Sandra; her parents; sisters: Mary Ann and Afton; and brothers: Ray and Leonard. She is survived by her sisters: Marjorie Hawkins, Evelyn Fuller and Katherine Kay Woodbury; her brother, John; children: Karen Robinson, Bruce, Dennis, Denise (Bret) Nelson and Nila (Chuck) Vanacore; as well as 14 grandchildren, 49 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren.

The family would like to thank Rocky Mountain Hospice for their kind and compassionate care especially Cindy, Tracy, Jack and LeNae. They would also like to thank everyone who helped with her care including Sheralyn, Evelyn, Kay, Karen and Ricci.

Dema did not wish for a funeral. A family viewing was held at Metcalf Mortuary and graveside service for family and close friends was held in the Enterprise City Cemetery, Enterprise, Utah.

Arrangements entrusted to the care of Metcalf Mortuary, 435-673-4221. Please visit our website at www.metcalfmortuary.com for condolences, complete obituary and funeral listings.

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