Thomas (Tom) Earl Dibble

Thomas (Tom) Earl Dibble, 78, passed away peacefully in the arms of his wife, Rosemary, in Salt Lake City, Utah on Wed., April 13. Tom had bravely battled psoriatic arthritis for many years and cancer recently.
Tom’s mother,Wanda June Dibble, gave birth to him three weeks early in Pocatello, Idaho. Baby Tom’s dad, Tom Sr., was deployed overseas during World War II, and scooped baby Tommy up into his arms six months later.
As the oldest of five brothers, and the 2nd oldest of his four female cousins in Pocatello, Tom good-heartedly struggled to herd the pack of kids out of trouble (mostly). Tom was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at age eight, and he earned the highest scouting award of Eagle Scout (having survived 6 days in the wilderness without adults) and graduated from Pocatello High in 1961.
Tom moved to Salt Lake City to attend electronics school, and while helping a friend move, he met the love of his life, Rosemary Dibble. The two married on New Year’s Eve at the famous A Little White Chapel, in Las Vegas, Nevada, and remained married for 55 happy years.
The new couple welcomed their first daughter, Kendeyl to their family, and a year later they celebrated their son, Thayne’s, arrival. Two years flew by and then their daughter, JaNae, completed the Dibble family. Tom loved to take his kids dune-buggying through the fields behind their house, camping, or cooking up “Farm Food” aka homemade chicken noodle soup served over mashed potatoes, and road-tripping to Las Vegas, Pocatello and California.
After graduating from electronics school, Tom accepted an Electronics Installer job at Western Electric. The interviewer told him he was happy to hire a farm boy from Idaho, “as those boys are hard workers”. Tom used his “hard work” ethic to rise through the corporate ranks and he soon managed the Utah, Wyoming and Montana territories. He eventually retired from the company (now AT&T) at the tender age of 52 (to everyone’s envy!)
After retirement, Tom pursued his lifelong loves–gardening, building custom homes, building a cabin with his son, Thayne, making pickles with his daughter, JaNae, traveling to Europe, Costa Roca, Mexico and Hawaii with family, where he could always find ways to crack coconuts. He also proudly attended every sporting event, program and celebration featuring his grandkids.
For the last ten years, he attended services at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church with Rosemary. The two loved to help struggling families get back on their feet through the church’s Family Promise group, which provides free housing and meals to needy families.
Tom was preceded in death by his mother, Wanda Dibble, his father, Tom Dibble and his brother, Pat Dibble. Tom is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Rosemary Dibble. The two loved raising their kids, taking family on trips, and discovering new plants for their collection, especially cacti.
Tom’s other survivors include Tom’s brothers, Edward Dibble, Terry (Betty) Dibble, and Bob (Helen) Dibble and Tom’s children, Kendeyl Johansen, Thayne Dibble, and JaNae (Sean) Smith.
More survivors include Tom’s grandkids and great-grandkids, Brayden Smith, Madison (Royce) Plowman and their daughter, Sophie Plowman, and their new baby Wesley Plowman, Makenna (Matt) Orlandi and their in-utero son, and also his grandson, Mitchell Smith. His other grandchildren are Max, Jake, Tom and Kira Johansen, and Berlyn Dibble.
Many lifelong friends will miss Tom’s laughter, twinkly-eyed smiles, gardening advice, handyman tips (Tom could always fix anything), and custom-made omelets.
On Saturday, April 16, a viewing (10:00-10:45) and funeral (11:00 am to 12:00 pm) celebrating Tom’s life will take place at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church at 8575 S 700 E, Sandy. Pallbearers include Ed Dibble, Terry Dibble, B0b Dibble, Pat Dibble Jr, Brayden Smith, Max Johansen, Jake Johansen, and Tom Johansen, and honorary pallbearers include Tom Dibble Jr., and Josh Dibble.
Please leave online messages and tributes to the family by visiting our website: Memorial Holladay-Cottonwood Mortuary https://memorialutah.com/obituaries/thomas-tom-earl-dibble/ To live stream the funeral service follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujj7IVIWIBQ
Flowers can be sent to Good Shepherd Lutheran church.
Service Information
Viewing April 16, 2022 at 10:00-10:45 AM
8575 South 700 East, Sandy, Utah





Funeral Service
April 16, 2022 at 11:00 AM-12:00 PM
8575 South 700 East, Sandy, Utah