BRINKERHOFF, Nelson Allen

Meldrum Mortuary & Crematory, Mesa, Arizona Nelson Allen Brinkerhoff January 26, 1929 - December 31, 2013 Nelson Allen Brinkerhoff, 84, passed away peacefully on December 31, 2013, in Mesa, Arizona. He was born in Woodruff, Arizona, on January 26, 1929, the youngest of eight children, to Joseph and Phoebe Allen Brinkerhoff. He married his high school sweetheart, Betty Jean Burton on August 21, 1949, in Holbrook, Arizona. He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and faithfully served in many positions. Nelson faithfully served as Bishop in the Palmdale, California, and Canyonville, Oregon Wards. He and his wife, Betty served a full-time mission for the Church in Malaysia and India in 1985/87. He was self-employed as a talented craftsman and ran his own cabinet shop for many years. He loved to work and built many homes for his family and others. He also loved to play and spent many hours water-skiing, scuba-diving, and traveling with his family. He was known as the family ping-pong champion and could beat everyone…including grandsons…right up until the last few years. He lived his life as an example of love and compassion to all those who knew him. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Betty; his 5 children: Cindy (Loia) Fiaui of Kaneohe, HI, Ken (Kim) Brinkerhoff of Grants Pass, OR, Bonnie (Tom) Pappas of Roseburg, OR, Mike Brinkerhoff of Princeton, TX and Jason (Jackie) Brinkerhoff of Lindon, UT; a brother, Dean Brinkerhoff of Mesa, AZ; 22 grandchildren; and 34 great-grandchildren with 3 more coming soon. The family would like to express their appreciation to the many caring friends and family members for the support given during his long illness. The family will hold a memorial service in Mesa, Arizona, on January 25, 2014, at 11:00 am at the Mesa Century Gardens Ward building of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 633 S. Higley Road, Mesa, AZ. There will also be a service held in Oregon this summer.