Norman Kent Fuellenbach

Kent Fuellenbach

Salmon, Idaho

Norman Kent Fuellenbach, 69, of Salmon, Idaho, died March 13, 2017 of an apparent heart attack while lap swimming. Kent was born April 24, 1947 in Richfield, Sevier, Utah, the son of Norman Joseph and Marjorie Powell Fuellenbach.

Though he claimed he never grew up, Kent was raised in Richfield, having what he considered a perfect childhood: hiking, swimming and riding horses in the red hills and Sevier Valley. When he was 16 he discovered one of his life-long loves, river rafting, while floating the Colorado River with his Boy Scout troop.

He attended Richfield schools and graduated from Richfield High School in 1965. He went on to college, first at College of Southern Utah in Cedar City, Utah, and then at Utah State University, Logan, Utah, where he graduated in 1971 with a bachelor’s degree in Forestry and Outdoor Recreation.

While at Utah State he met, dated and then married Robin Fitzgerald of Logan, Utah. They were married in the Manti LDS Temple on September 3, 1971. Kent worked for Utah Tourism Council at Utah State while Robin finished her teaching degree. They then moved to Fishlake and then Richfield, Utah, in 1974.

Kent worked with his father Norm and brother Mark at The Richfield Reaper newspaper in Richfield from 1973-1976. His son Joshua Kent was born during this time. He also served as Richfield City Councilman and a Boy Scout master.

In 1976 he moved his family to Payson, Utah, to become "publisher, editor, and janitor" of The Payson Chronicle weekly newspaper. While running the newspaper, he also served as a delegate to the Utah Press Association and in 1986 as its president. He also served two terms as a Payson City Councilman and several years as a Scoutmaster. His daughter Holly Jane was born while they lived in Payson.

In 1989 he sold the newspaper and ran Nebo Printing until 1990 when he was hired by the USDA Forest Service and moved to Salmon, Idaho, as the public information officer for the Salmon National Forest and then later for the Salmon-Challis National Forest. He loved Salmon and working for the Forest Service and continued there until his retirement in 2012.

Kent and Robin went on an 18-month LDS mission to Nauvoo, Illinois, in 2013, fulfilling a life-long dream. Since their return to Salmon in 2014, Kent has been lucky enough to serve in the Boy Scouts again, this time as an 11-year-old Scout leader. He spent many hours preparing and presenting lessons to "his boys" and earned an Extra Miler Award for his efforts.

Kent is survived by his wife of Salmon; his children: Josh (Stefanie) Fuellenbach, Herriman, Utah; and Holly (Brandon) Pedler, West Valley City, Utah; grandchildren: Paul, Laura, James, and Alice Fuellenbach; sisters: Sue (Richard) Buys, Heber City, Utah; and Jan (Kraig) Patterson, Timber Lakes, Utah; sister-in-law Mari Fuellenbach, South Jordan. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Mark Fuellenbach.

Funeral services will be held Friday, March 17, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. in the Salmon LDS Stake Center on Daisy Street, where friends may call Thursday evening from 7-9 p.m. and on Friday from 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

Burial will be Saturday, March 18, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. in the Richfield City Cemetery. Burial will be under the direction of the Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti. Online guestbook at www.maglebymortuary.com