Dr. John Miller Thueson

Dr. John Miller Thueson, of Draper, Utah, passed away early Saturday morning, June 7, 2025, at his home due to natural causes. He was 85.

John was born on April 14, 1940, in Murray, Utah, to John Aaron Thueson and Merle Edla Miller. He was the oldest of six children. He graduated from Murray High School in 1958, then attended the University of Utah for two years studying pre-med before serving a two-year mission for the LDS Church in the South Australia Mission.

After his mission, he resumed his studies at the University of Utah and earned a BA in Genetics, followed by a medical degree from the University of Utah Medical School. During his senior year of medical school, an Army recruiter visited and offered him an all-expenses-paid externship at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, in exchange for commissioning as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. John figured he was going to be drafted anyway—so he may as well get a free trip to Hawaii.

While in Hawaii, he met Katherine Jane Easton at a church activity. They began dating, and after John returned to Utah to finish medical school, they kept in touch by writing letters. Later that year, during a school break, John flew back to Hawaii and surprised Kathy with a proposal. They were married on June 9, 1969, in the Salt Lake Temple—just two days after John graduated from medical school.

The newlyweds drove their metallic blue Pontiac Firebird 400 convertible to El Paso, Texas, where John began an internship at William Beaumont Army Medical Center. The following year, they returned to Hawaii so John could begin his four-year surgical residency at Tripler. During that time, their first three children—Chad, Kelli, and Burk—were born.

After completing his residency, John was assigned to Fort Ord in Northern California to fulfill his two-year draft obligation. The family bought a home in Salinas. But John had come to realize that being told what to do by others was not his preferred relationship dynamic. Unfortunately for him, the Army quite enjoyed telling him what to do—all the time.

Around this time, John’s cousin Darrell, a family practitioner in Blackfoot, Idaho, told him about a little-known policy that allowed doctors to forgo their draft obligation if they went to a community in need of their particular specialty. Blackfoot had no surgeon—or obstetrician. With help from a connected Idaho senator, John was honorably discharged and agreed to serve in Blackfoot for at least one year.

That one year turned into nine—and three more children: Shane, Lindsay, and Jeremy.

John quickly became beloved by the people of Blackfoot and the surrounding areas. He treated thousands—at the hospital, on the reservation, in his home, or anywhere someone needed help. Known simply as “Dr. John,” he formed deep bonds with the community, and they with him. So strong was their loyalty that even after the Thueson family moved to Sandy, Utah, many continued making the three-hour drive to be treated by him.

He fell in love with Blackfoot, too. He bought a motorhome—which brought joy to the kids and sheer terror to Kathy—and he acquired a 24-acre plot of land along the Snake River, marking the first time John “bought the farm.”

After moving to Sandy, John worked as a general surgeon at Alta View and Cottonwood Hospitals. Later, he transitioned to full-time emergency medicine in pursuit of a more “predictable” schedule—though in truth, John was never one to clock out of caring for others.

When not at the hospital, John regularly received visitors at home—several a week for years—where he performed “kitchen-table” procedures. His children often served as his nursing staff, assisting with every kind of treatment that didn’t require anesthesia.

If you were looking for him, there were three likely places to check: the hospital, the church, or out in the yard. He loved gardening, especially caring for the rose bushes he’d transplanted from his mother’s garden. He was always doing something useful—fixing, building, or helping someone in need—and he did it all with calm, quiet competence and a healthy dose of dry wit.

John loved the outdoors and working with youth, so participating in Scouting was a natural fit. He served for years in various leadership roles and was awarded the Silver Beaver, the highest recognition a Scout council can bestow on an adult volunteer.

After retiring from emergency medicine in 2006, John and Kathy served as medical missionaries in West Africa, where he was the Medical Director for the LDS Church’s Africa West Area. Based in Ghana for 18 months, he traveled frequently to neighboring countries and considered his time there a remarkable and meaningful final chapter in a life spent serving the sick and suffering.

John has bought the farm once more. Two days shy of his and Kathy’s 56th wedding anniversary.

He is survived by his wife, Kathy; their six children: Chad (Wendy) of Eagle Mountain, Utah; Kelli of Lehi, Utah; Burk of Draper, Utah; Shane (Brieann) of Draper, Utah; Lindsay (Mike) of Lehi, Utah; and Jeremy (Ashley) of Bountiful, Utah; 18 grandchildren (and one great-grandchild on the way); and three siblings: Ann, Craig, and Con. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Mark and Brent.

A viewing will be held Friday, June 13, 2025, from 6-8 PM at Anderson & Goff Mortuary, 11859 S 700 E, Draper, Utah. Attendees are welcome to wear Aloha shirts and other Hawaiian attire.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 14, 2025, 11 AM at the LDS chapel at 1617 E 12700 S, Draper, Utah. The service will be broadcast online at http://evt.live/john-thueson. Prior to services, a viewing will be held from 9:30-10:30 AM. Following the funeral, a graveside service will be held at Larkin Memorial Cemetery, 1950 E 10600 S, Sandy, Utah.