Beloved husband, father, grandfather, and educator, Hal George Ferguson, 87, of Rigby, Idaho, passed away in his sleep on the early morning of June 10, 2015. He was the eldest son of George Kenneth Ferguson and Millicent Stewart, and a generous big brother to his seven younger siblings, Beverly, Myrna, Dallas, Richard, Joseph, Ellen, and Shelley.

Like many of his generation, Hal joined the U.S. Army as soon as he was old enough. He was in the artillery, stationed in Japan, from 1946 - 1949. Upon his return to America he accepted a call to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and returned to Japan for the next three years. Having completed his formal service to his country and to his God, Hal met and subsequently married Carma Joyce Hanseen on March 11, 1953 in the Salt Lake Temple and together they raised 14 children. Together they served two missions, one to Japan and a second that included time both in Japan and at the Family History Mission on Temple Square in Salt Lake City.

A devoted teacher, Hal took employment with the Church Educational System as a Seminary teacher beginning in 1955. He taught students in Malad, Idaho, Tucson, Arizona, Ogden and Payson, Utah, before returning to Brigham Young University to obtain a Ph.D. in Child Development and Family Relations. He taught at Ricks College from 1969 to 1991, enriching the lives of countless students by encouraging them to spend as much energy in creating a successful marriage as in creating a successful career.

Following his retirement from Ricks College he was able more fully to develop his real passion in life: family history and genealogy. He amassed the names and pertinent information for literally thousands of family members and was in communication with extended family all across the United States. He remained active as a teacher of the gospel, too, serving as the teacher development director, gospel doctrine teacher, and high priest instructor. He served as a Bishop on two occasions and on the high council, among many other callings. He loved the Lord Jesus Christ and sought diligently to serve Him at all times and in all places.

Hal is survived by Carma Ferguson, his wife of 62 years, four siblings, Richard (Marta) Ferguson, Joseph (Colleen) Ferguson, Ellen (Ernie) Yanni and Shelley (Phil) Kearns, all in Northern Utah, and by twelve of his 14 children: Georgann (Scott) Roberts, Phillip (Carolyn) Ferguson, Scott (Julie) Ferguson, Michael (Renae) Ferguson, Barbara Studebaker, Becky (Sidney) Hill, Mark (Dalene) Ferguson, Robert (Alison) Ferguson, Sandy (Tecia) Ferguson, Melissa (Kevin) Coles, Nichole (Jeff) Aldous, and Richard (KaraLyn) Ferguson, and by Gracie Ferguson and Kelly Ferguson, the wives of his two sons, McKay and Travis, who preceded him in death. He leaves behind 64 grandchildren, 34 grandchildren-in-law, and we have lost count of the number of great-grandchildren (the number changes too fast). He loved each of them dearly.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, June 15, at the Rigby 5th Ward Chapel, 258 West 1st North, Rigby, Idaho. The family will receive friends Sunday evening from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Flamm Funeral Home in Rexburg and Monday from 12:00 to 12:45 p.m. at the church prior to services. Interment will be in the Sugar City Cemetery.