Most Worshipful Brother W. Thuren Odendahl

Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Utah 1984

W. Thuren Odendahl was born December 8, 1924, in Oak Creek, Colorado where he attended school for eleven years. In 1942, he moved to Benton, Illinois, where he attended, and graduated from high school.

He served with the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific during World War II. Upon his return from the service, in March 1946, he moved to Sunnyside, Utah, to further his education.

While living in Sunnyside, he met his wife, Beverly, and they were married in June 1948. They now live in Price, Utah, and have three children, Gordon, Barbara, and Keith, and seven grandchildren.

Thuren and his father owned and operated Star Point Coal Company for five and one-half years. They then bought Carbon Transfer & Supply Company, a mining supply company, which is now owned and operated by Thuren, who is president, and his three children.

He became a Master Mason in Joppa Lodge No. 26 in February 1948, and served as Worshipful Master in 1957 and 1976. He was the first Master Mason in Joppa Lodge to be raised by his father and, also, installed as Worshipful Master by his father. Thuren also has had the honor of raising both of his sons, Gordon and Keith, and of installing both of them as Worshipful Masters.

Joppa Lodge now has three living generations of Past Masters. His father, Walter, is presently serving as Worshipful Master of Joppa Lodge.

Thuren is a member of the Price York Rite Bodies, a member of El Kalah Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S. He is a member of the Royal Order of Jesters.

He is a member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Salt Lake, and was vested the Rank and Decoration of Knight Commander of the Court of Honour in 1979. He is an officer of the Utah Consistory, a member of the Membership Committee, and the Royal Order of Scotland.

In 1984, he was awarded the DeMolay Honorary Legion of Honor. He is a member of the United Methodist Church of Price.

He was appointed to serve Grand Lodge as W. Junior Grand Steward in 1977. In 1981, he was elected R. W. Junior Grand Warden. In 1984, he was elected and installed as the 109th Grand Master of the Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Utah.

Utah Grand Lodge Proceedings, 1984.

Electronically Transcribed as written without corrections to grammar or spelling by Aaron E. Saathoff, P.M., March, 2005.