Robert Faris Feland III (Bob) died on September 15, 2022 at the age of 80 years after a brief but intense battle with multiple forms of cancer. He is survived by his wife Linda Lee Barnes Feland whom he married on November 1, 1971, and his 5 children; Jodene Smith, Brent Feland, Robert Feland IV, Adam Feland, and Sarah Millward. Robert is also survived by his Brothers Tom Feland, George Feland, and his Sister Leanta Diaz. Robert and Linda were sealed together for time and all eternity in the Manti Utah Temple on August 31, 1976 and there are few examples of a man who was as in love and devoted to his wife as he was.
Bob was born on March 31, 1942, in Long Beach Memorial hospital in Los Angeles County, California to Robert Faris Feland II and Nadine Riggs.
He played fastpitch and slow-pitch softball as long as he was physically able, his last year of playing softball he received an award for highest batting average in the entire league. He has been a lifelong baseball Dodger fan. He coached numerous soccer and baseball teams throughout his life and enjoyed that time with his children as they participated in those sports.
In 1961 he served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Meinz, Germany and came back with a love for the German people and language that he shared for the rest of his life. For hobbies, he loved doing favors for Linda and anything he could to make her feel special and happy. He also loved reading, and his library is a true homage to his love of books. He loved studying the scriptures. He loved to joke that he was a doctor since he had his Juris Doctorate degree in law from Brigham Young University law school where he graduated in 1977. He practiced law for about 10 years and then one day he came home and felt that he could not compromise on his sense of right and wrong anymore. He felt that the process of negotiation and defense of clients often included many “white lies” which really bothered him. He then left law and became a seminary teacher at Alta High School in 1987. He continued seminary teaching until he was asked to teach institute at Oklahoma University starting in August of 1992. They lived in Little Axe, OK for 3 years while he taught institute at the University. He moved his family back to South Jordan, Utah in 1995 to teach seminary at Union Middle school to 9th graders for about 1 year. He was soon asked to accept a teaching assignment at the Utah State Prison and quickly became the director of the institute at the prison. He stayed in the prison and eventually retired from the Church Educational System in June 2014. He enjoyed working with the people in prison and continued as a Chaplain until he officially retired in 2021 at the age of 79.
Per his wishes a formal funeral will not be held. He simply wanted a celebration of his life with family members at his home with dinner and the telling of funny stories and memories. He would want all who knew him to celebrate life, go to Disneyland, and most importantly come to know God and Jesus and gain a personal testimony of the purpose of life. His love, influence, counsel, and true patriarchal leadership will be missed and is irreplaceable.
5 Condolences for Robert Faris Feland III
Condolences(5)
Ginger says
September 20, 2022 at 4:18 amMy earliest memories of Robert, then known to family as Robby was celebrating our birthday’s at Grandmother and Papa’s Feland house in Hermosa Beach. My birthday is March 29, Robert’s March 31 and Uncle Bob (my great uncle) celebrated together. I remember climbing on his lap as he sat in my great Aunt Leanta’s chair. He was the first Feland grandchild and a boy to pass on the family name. He was a favorite by all and no one sat in Leanta’s chair at the beach. Somewhere in my pictures is a picture of the three of us and I am probably two in the picture and am so tiny compared to these giant men.
May God grant you Linda and your precious family the comfort and peace only He can. Much love, Ginger
Brinton Webb says
September 20, 2022 at 9:22 amSo many memories flood my mind. John Bevan and I enjoyed immensely serving as counselors to Bishop Feland. Paulla and I found ourselves in awe of sister Feland’s marvelous gospel doctrine lessons. Stories of your experiences in Oklahoma And your service as prison chaplain. Oh how we love you and your family and find ourselves celebrating life as you would want us to. We are currently serving as welfare and self-reliance missionaries in Spain. Thanks for the impact you’ve had on our lives!
Russ Armstrong says
September 20, 2022 at 3:53 pmFor quite some time he had the office next to mine at the Prison in the Unita Facility, and I was honored to know and like him. We would often talk about things at work, our interests, and Family History which I was able to help him with a few times. And he helped me with some German language questions I had with Family History records.
He is now in a place to be of service to others. Farewell
Harvey Hatch says
September 24, 2022 at 12:41 amBob and I were missionary companions in Germany in the small town of Marburg. I remember he would often go down to the river side and put the shot in order to try to keep in some sort of physical condition. We had a great time in the small branch there. There is a university there as well and we often had good discussions with some of the students. Best wishes to his family.
Wendy Rallison says
September 30, 2022 at 5:45 pmI had the pleasure of working with Bob at the Department of Corrections in Volunteer and Religious Services. We were fast friends. Even after he left the department we remained friends. In so much that I asked him to marry my daughter and her husband where I had the pleasure of meeting Linda. You could tell she was the love of his life by the way he talked about her. It was very heart warming. I am deeply saddened by his death but know he’s happy in the presence of his Heavenly Father.
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