Purcell Family of America

Posted: 23 February 2010 at 9:50 p.m.

LAYTON — Our beloved husband and father, Nicholas Dereta, left us today, February 13, 2010. He was born November 29, 1927, in Midland, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Milovan (Mike) Dereta and Bertha Cimesa Dereta.

He attended schools in Midland until his junior year of high school when he left to join the U. S. Navy at the end of World War II. When the war ended he returned to high school and graduated. He left Midland to go to California and attended Fresno State University working his way through to a degree in Criminology. Upon graduation he was employed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, & Firearms (ATF) in Seattle, Washington. In 1966 he was recruited by the Agency for International Development (USAID) and spent two years in South Vietnam following which he returned to ATF Los Angeles. Then a series of transfers brought him to Salt Lake City in 1977 where he retired from Government service in 1985. He then served 10 years in the security department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which was a position he loved. He retired a second time in 1995 to serve a mission in London, England, which was the joy of his life. He spent five years in Port St. Lucie, Florida with his son Seth and family, following which the family finally settled in Layton, Utah, where they have been for the past three years.

He loved his family, his church, and his country and had a firm and abiding testimony of his Savior the Lord Jesus Christ. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Aloa, his sons, Nicholas, Duffy (Cecilia), and Seth (Leora); daughters, Marie (David) Harrington, Cherie (Rodger) Ushio, Tracy (Kelly) Perkins, Jaime Christensen, and Lauren Dereta; 27 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two grandsons, Cobin Christensen and Michael Dereta; sister Mildred, and brother Peter.

In the passing of Nick, a man has gone from our midst whose character was probably as angelical as that of any person ever on the earth. He was of a sweet disposition and possessed a character such as to draw unto him friends in every walk of life. He knew no jealousy, was unpretentious, unassuming and humble, and his character and life were totally transparent.

Funeral services were held Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 11 a.m. at the Layton Sand Springs LDS Ward, 150 N. 3200 W. Friends and family called Wednesday from 6-8 p.m. at the Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 N. Fairfield Rd., and Thursday from 9:30- 10:30 a.m. at the church. Interment, Bountiful City Cemetery.