2 families are slowly adjusting to their loss

OREM — Larry Radford loved to cook, pleasing family members with the "greatest mashed potatoes" and an array of barbecued dishes.

These are the images the Radford family is holding on to — not the jarring memories of seeing a half-destroyed home and firefighters digging through imploded walls looking for two bodies.

"Everybody's just a little shocked," said Radford's daughter-in-law, Jennifer Whiting, Lehi. "(We're) remembering the good and happy memories, trying to always see the good in it."

Radford, 48, a veteran Questar employee, had responded Tuesday afternoon to a call about a broken natural gas line on Badger Street in Saratoga Springs.

He fixed the line, checked the house and is thought to have walked back inside with homeowner April Roper, 24, presumably to turn on the pilot light.

Minutes later, the home exploded, shooting flames into the air and spraying neighboring yards with furniture and personal belongings.

The two families say they are slowly coming to terms with the tragedy, supported by the outpouring of love and concern from family, friends and community members.

"It's very humbling to learn the vast extent of people wanting to help and showing concern," said Gail Roper, April's father-in-law. "And that is very comforting,"

The Roper family says they've been inundated by donations of food and clothing for April's husband, Greg, and the couple's 18-month-old baby, Olivia.

"It's just been a constant flow of people calling and expressing their sympathy and wanting to help," Gail Roper said.

The Radford family is being financially assisted by Questar with funeral arrangements, which have been planned for this weekend to honor their father.

"One thing I always loved about my dad is he is a very giving person," said son Elijah Radford, 28, who lives in Midvale. "He will do anything for anybody to help them."

Whiting mentioned that when she and her husband, J.P., were first married, she would frequently ask Radford to come check on their home's natural gas stove. He would hurry over with his equipment to check the air and relight the pilot light if needed.

Originally from Georgia, Radford came to Utah more than two decades ago, where he met his wife, Lori, who is still trying to cope with the loss, Whiting said.

Coping is hard, family members say, because so many questions remain unanswered.