He was born on January 12, 1932 in Ioka, Duchesne County, Utah to Ada Shurtz and John Roy Franklin. He was raised in Carbon County, Utah along with his six sisters. After his father died in a coal mining accident, he joined the U.S. Navy. While serving during the Korean War, he was assigned to a troop transport ship and traveled around the world.

He was sealed to Erma Coleman in the Logan LDS temple on September 23, 1955 and was married to her for 68 years, until her passing in 2023. They made their home in Ogden, Utah, where he resided for 69 years. Don spent his career with the Ogden City School District and after retirement he worked for the LDS Church. He loved to hunt, fish, and garden, and he loved sharing his roses with friends. He was a woodworker and a handyman.

Don was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and he served in many callings, including Scoutmaster for 17 years. He received the Silver Beaver Award from the Boy Scouts of America. In 1997, he and Erma served an 18-month mission to the Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii and they also served a one-year mission in the Logan Utah Mission. Don served an 8-year service mission at Camp Shawnee. He was known for his tireless service to friends and neighbors.

He was preceded in death by his wife Erma, his parents and five sisters.

He is survived by his five children; Bonnie (Bruce) Barker, Gail (Lonn) Salmond, Ned (Deanna) Franklin, Diane (Steve) Worthen, and Gary Franklin, 18 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two sisters, Shirlean Paiz and Margie Tucker.

We would like to thank our brother Gary for his kind and loving care of our father during the last two years of his life. We’d also like to acknowledge Annette and Ashley from Applegate Home Health Care & Hospice for their kind and patient care of Donald for the last few months.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at the Shoreline Ridge Ward, 300 Iowa Avenue, Ogden, Utah from 10:00 am to11:00 am. A private family graveside service will follow. Interment will be in the Smithfield, Utah cemetery.