Funeral held for first of four missionaries

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    By RACHEL DAHNEKE

    Determination was the theme of Elder Bradly Alan Savage’s life.

    Friends and family gathered at his funeral Thursday to remember the accomplishments of his life and his mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

    Savage, from Lehi, Utah County, was killed in a car accident Jan. 28 with three other missionaries in the Des Moines, Iowa mission.

    His diligence as a missionary was apparent in the way he worked, said Michelle Kramer, 19, from Osceola, Iowa, where Savage served.

    “He and [his companion] had a 100 mph work ethic. Pounding the streets, tracking and re-tracking, always trying a fresh approach,” she said.

    Savage loved being a missionary and expressed this when he called his mother two weeks before his death.

    “This is the happiest I’ve ever been. I know I’m in the right place doing the right thing. It’s awesome,” he said to his mother, Keri Savage.

    President Thomas S. Monson, who spoke at the funeral, said Savage had a strong desire to be a missionary.

    “He went about doing good. He was on the Lord’s errand,” he said.

    Savage’s love for life and his work ethic were learned early in life.

    “At 13 he wanted to learn to fly a plane, and he did. At 15 he wanted to learn how to dive. He took Lehi school to state three years in a row,” his mother said.

    Savage graduated from Lehi High School, was an Eagle Scout and won three individual state titles in diving.

    He determined to be a champion in everything he did, said Savage’s diving coach, Dennis Myre.

    But Savage did not do it alone.

    At age 19, he gave his mom his letterman jacket saying “we worked hard for this,” referring to all the rides to diving practice and the support his mother gave.

    Friends of Savage say they will remember his playful personality.

    “He was very adventuresome. He would have me throw him off the roof onto the trampoline. He was always looking for something nice to do for people,” said his neighbor, Justin W. Rollins, 20, from Lehi.

    Not only did Savage leave an impression on those he grew up with, but also in the Des Moines, Iowa mission. His mission president, Robert L. Rowley, said he was a “perfect son.”

    See related stories and video:

    Missionary killed in crash an example of determination, persistence 2/3/2000

    Funeral services announced for missionaries 2/1/2000

    Missionaries die in Iowa car accident 1/31/2000

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