In the presence of his youngest son, John and his brother, Stephen, Frederic Arthur DeSmet passed from this life into the next. May he rest in peace.
Fred was preceded in death by son, Richard Pierre DeSmet. He is survived by his son John (Hollie)
DeSmet; his sister Sylvia DeSmet Deakin (John) and his nephew Charles Huff; great-niece, Brinley Huff, by his brother, Stephen DeSmet (Karen), nephew, Eric DeSmet, (Lori) and great-niece Kate DeSmet; and Kristin Tiffany DeSmet and great-nephew Tyson Steck.
Fred was a wonderful, supportive, father to Pierre and John and shared his love of cars and motorcycles with his son John. Fred had a quick wit and a healthy sense of humor. He was a man of few words, but full of pearls of wisdom, and when Fred spoke, you listened.
Fred was born in Huntington Beach, California, to Richard Medard DeSmet and Minabel Layton DeSmet, of Pasadena. He was their first child. He grew up in Pasadena and graduated from Pasadena High School, Pasadena City College, and completed his college education at the University of Denver, in Denver Colorado in 1966 with a degree in Radio and Television Communications. Fred returned to Pasadena and enrolled in a program from which he graduated and received a license in Electronical Technology.
After completing his education, Fred took his first job in Salt Lake City, Utah, as a radio sales executive at a country western radio Station. Fred was hired because he had a license in Electronical Technology, and when necessary, he could climb the tower and fix problems. Fortunately for Fred, this need only occurred twice before he was made Sales manager, thanks to Fred’s outstanding sales abilities the station could afford an on-call electronics person in their budget.
Upon arriving in Salt Lake, Fred also met and married Madaline Horne DeSmet. They were divorced in 1995.
In 1981, Fred left radio. He and friend, Ben Crass, bought an old wrecking yard and opened Midvale Radiator and Salvage, which soon dropped the “Salvage” and became “Used Cars”. They closed in 1997.
Fred was involved in his community early on with his wife as Church School teacher and Youth Group advisor at Saint Mark’s Cathedral. Fred was Pack Master with the Cub Scouts one year for each of his sons. Fred volunteered at the Pioneer Days parade for many years doing odd technical jobs and blowing up helium balloons. He and his wife served as shelter parents for the Salt Lake County Detention Center for over 10 years. They parented many young boys through some trying times in their lives. Two of these boys, now men, Ray Chavis, Livingston, MT; and Chuck Lawrence, Orem, Utah, are still part of their lives.
In the early 1990’s Fred got a long-anticipated Ham Radio license and has spent the last 20 or so years enjoying the company of people who serve their communities in many emergency and social situations all over the world. This activity gave him great pleasure and satisfaction.
There will be no service at this time, but a Celebration of Life, sometime in the future, to be announced at a later time.