Lynn Ariel Thomson Jr.

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Lynn Ariel Thomson Jr., beloved son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend, returned peacefully to his loving Heavenly Father on Sunday, July 21, 2024. He was born September 30, 1934, in Logan, Utah, the oldest of 5 children born to Lynn Ariel and June Waite Thomson. Ariel married his sweetheart and eternal companion, Ruth Smith, on June 12, 1957, in the Logan, Utah Temple. They were blessed with five daughters: Diana, Mary Ann, Julie, Betty, and Kathryn Jane; their husbands; 30 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.

Ariel’s childhood was spent in Logan where he was raised with three brothers and one sister. He cherished memories and time spent with family and grandparents in Hyde Park and Richmond, Utah. Ariel loved to play basketball and football with friends. He was known for spearheading good-natured practical jokes with family and friends.

Ariel learned the value of work early by managing a paper route and caring for his pigeons. Later, Ariel assisted in the family business, Thomson Electric, as a journeyman electrician. In high school he participated in track, band, and debate. He graduated from Logan High School in 1952. 

While attending Utah State University, Ariel was introduced to Ruth Smith by her brother, Richard. Ariel was immediately smitten and knew he wanted her to be part of his life. They admired each other greatly and remained in contact the following years.

Ariel’s love of Jesus Christ and desire to share, inspired him throughout his life. In 1955, he embarked on a mission to the Hawaiian Islands for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He developed a profound respect and love for the people and their culture. 

Following his mission, Ruth and Ariel were married and moved to Honolulu where Ariel continued his education. They made many cherished friendships and treasured their time in Hawaii.

Ariel then attended Northwestern Dental School in Chicago, Illinois where he received his DDS. Upon graduation, he accepted a teaching position at the dental school. 

He later joined the U.S. Public Health Service with assignments to Indian Health hospitals in Montana and Arizona. His clinical work with San Carlos Apache Indians resulted in a position at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. 

Following his service at NIH, he completed postdoctoral training to become an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer at the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia. Ariel later completed graduate coursework at the University of Michigan, leading to a masters and doctorate degree in Public Health. 

From Michigan, the family relocated to Maryland where Ariel worked at NIH. His principal responsibility was to design and conduct research. Major studies involved populations in the United States, Australia, the Canary Islands, Jordan, New Guinea, Peru and Venezuela.

Ariel and Ruth created a welcoming, happy home where many felt loved and experienced the warm light of the gospel. Their daughters were raised in Potomac, Maryland. Ariel grew beautiful gardens everywhere the family lived. They worked together to build grape arbors, carefully tend vegetables, and curate colorful displays of flowers. He was a lifelong scholar and patient teacher. Ariel treasured learning and loved to teach his daughters about his research and all areas of life. His joy of learning was contagious and influenced others to be active learners. 

Ariel cherished his patriotic and pioneer heritage and carefully documented family history. He traveled extensively with his family and delighted in experiencing the beauty and history of the world through their eyes. Ariel prepared wonderful meals featuring many cuisines. 

After retiring from the Public Health Service in 1983, Ariel relocated his family to Logan, Utah. They enjoyed being closer to family, renewing old acquaintances, and making new friendships. He taught Oral Microbiology and Community Dentistry courses for Creighton Dental School at the University of Utah. He was a professor of Microbiology, Epidemiology, and Public Health at Utah State University. He also served on the Bear River Board of Health.

Ariel’s true joy was his family. His grandchildren affectionately knew him as "Poppy." He loved each one very much. Wonderful memories were made at family gatherings and at the Bear Lake cabin.

Ariel had a deep and abiding testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He found great joy serving in a variety of callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He held his testimony and commitment to the gospel dear and shared his faith freely. Ariel was an example of having faith in God through the challenges of life. 

Ariel is survived by his children, Diana Lynne (Marc) Anderson, Mary Ann Summers, Julie Ann (Bret) Peterson, Betty Ruth (Gordon) Daines, and Kathryn Jane (Danny) Conway; 30 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren; and his brothers Dixon (Suellen) Thomson, Theo (Arla Dene) Thomson, Gene (Julia) Thomson, and sister Mary (John) Fajen. He was preceded in death by his father, Lynn Ariel Thomson Sr., his mother, June Amelia Waite Thomson, his wife, Ruth Smith Thomson, and son-in-law, Bradley Kent Summers.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 3 at 11:00 am at the Eastridge Ward, 1350 Eastridge Dr., Logan, UT. Friends and family are invited to call Friday, August 2, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Allen Hall Mortuary, 34 E. Center St., Logan, and Saturday at the Eastridge Ward Building prior to the funeral from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Interment will follow at the Logan Cemetery. Condolences and memories may be shared online at www.allenmortuaries.com. A link to view the livestream of the funeral will also be available at www.allenmortuaries.com.

Thank you to the numerous doctors, nurses, aides, and kind individuals who served him with professionalism, love and respect, especially those at Same Day Surgery and Maple Springs. Ariel considered you his dear friends.

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