Alvin Reid Southard

June 30, 1926 - March 5, 2018

Alvin Reid Southard (91) died March 3. He was born in Centertown, Kentucky, to Gordon and Bessie Ashby Southard. Educated in a one-room elementary school and Beaver Dam High School in Kentucky, he was drafted in 1944 and served in the Army until April 1953, when he entered Utah State University where he earned a BS and MS in Soils Science and a PhD at Cornell University. He was on the faculty at Montana State University until 1967 when he returned to USU as a professor. During his career he traveled to many parts of the world. While serving in the Army in Japan during the Korean police action he met and married Margaret Held. They had four children: David (Angelika), Dena (Scott) Berglund, Paula (Barry) Wheeler, and Randal (Susan). After Margaret died, he met and married Donette Fergus Miles in 1986 and added 5 children to his family: Craig Miles (deceased)(Barbara), Paulette Mortensen (deceased) (Chris), Jon Miles (deceased) (Debbie), Jeanne Hutson (Tony), Deann Williams (Gordon). He had 13 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. Al attended Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Logan for over 50 years. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather and will be remembered as a man who did what he said he would do. The family would like to thank Anna Trappett and her team from IHC Hospice as well as the caregivers and nursing staff at Maple Springs Living for their kindness and tender care for Alvin. Al had a special place in his heart for those who are served through the Cache Community Food Bank located at 359 South Main, Logan. Donations in his memory would be sincerely appreciated. Services will be held on Saturday, March 10th at Nelson Funeral Home, 162 East 400 North, Logan. Public visitation begins at 12:00 pm with the service to follow at 1:00 pm.