Hellmut Hans Doelling

Hellmut Doelling
Manti, Utah

    Hellmut Hans Doelling was born on 25 July 1930, and died 29 November 2023 in Centerville, at the age of 93 years, 4 months, and 5 days.  He was born in Richmond Hill, Queens Boro, New York City, N.Y, the only son of Otto Johannes Doelling and Emma Camilla Hartmann. The family moved to Salt Lake City in 1943 and crossed "the plains" on a Greyhound bus in 5 days due to a 35 mph speed limit during WWII.
    Hellmut graduated from West High School in 1948, lettering in track and field. He attended the University of Utah from 1948 to 1950, then received a letter from Harry Truman and served in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953 during the Korean War. He returned to the U in 1953 and graduated with a B.S. in Geology in 1956. He was then called on a mission to the East German Mission, where he served in Neumünster, Brake/Weser, Uelzen, and Berlin, under Presidents Gregory and Robbins. 
    Work experiences up to this time included fruit picker, farmhand, paper delivery boy, newspaper inserter, copy boy, and photo lab assistant (Salt Lake Telegram and Tribune). He was also core laboratory curator, draftsman, and assistant geologist with the Utah Geological and Mineral Survey (UGMS). 
    He returned to the U to work on a graduate degree in geology. On 25 May 1960, he married Gerda Anna Scherwinski. They started a family ending up with seven children: David Robert, Barbara Jane, Jedediah Hans, Doris Regina, Peggy Carolyn, Teresa Victoria, and Matthew Ivan. Hellmut and Gerda raised their children primarily in Centerville. All learned to speak fluent German, as that was the language spoken in the home.  
    After receiving his Ph.D. in geology at the U (1964), he first taught the subject at Midwestern University in Wichita Falls, Texas, 1964 to 1966, keeping ties with the UGMS in the summertime. Enticed by a large increase in salary by the UGMS, he was recruited as the first chief of the Energy and Minerals Section, his position from 1966 to 1983. In 1983 he became the first chief of the Geologic Mapping program, a position he held until 1995. He then continued as a senior geologist until his formal retirement in 2003. Highlights of his profession include the publication of more than 200 books, maps, and articles about the geology of Utah. He also served as president of the Utah Geological Association in 1990 and received the Governors Medal for Science and Technology in 1993. 
    He also did consulting work, mostly in the western states: in Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, California, and New Mexico. He also worked in Arkansas, Mexico, and Canada. 
    After the children grew up, leaving the nest, so to speak, Hellmut and Gerda moved to Manti, for their retirement. They loved to travel, and in various ways and times eventually visited all U.S. states, 40 foreign countries, on all continents, except Antarctica. 
    They enjoyed "temple hopping." They enjoyed visiting their distant relatives in Germany. 
    Hellmut was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for which he was called to a myriad of positions. His favorite callings included working on two high councils, in Centerville and in Manti, being a ward clerk in Centerville under Bishops Knighton and Lotz and being executive secretary to Presidents Dyreng and Hintze in Manti. He served as a temple ordinance worker in Manti for more than 24 years, acting on occasion as coordinator and trainer. He was one of the last to do "live" sessions at the Manti Temple. 
    Music was also important to Hellmut who could play the accordion, piano, harmonium, and organ. He served as ward organist mostly in the Manti wards that he belonged to. He learned to conduct and served as a ward and stake choir director, and, on rare occasions, directed choirs or congregations in the Valley Music Hall and Salt Lake Tabernacle. 
    Hellmut is survived by his wife, Gerda; his seven children; 23 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren; and his sister, Annemarie. These are his "treasures." He loved and enjoyed all of them. 
    Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 9, 2023, at 12:00 Noon in the Manti Stake Center, 555 E Union Street in Manti, Utah.  Viewing will be from 10:30 - 11:30 am.  Interment will be at the Manti Cemetery. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti. Online guestbook at www.maglebymortuary.com