Howard Biddulph

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One of God's choicest sons was welcomed into the arms of our loving Savior in the early morning of May 23, 2022. Howard Lowell Biddulph is a giant of a man, in stature, in spirit, in mountain-moving faith, in Christ-like attributes, in patience and loving kindness. His great capacity to love and his dedicated service has endeared him to hearts around the world, especially in the United States, Canada and Ukraine, but also in China and Russia.

Howard was born 28 March 1935 in Rexburg, Idaho to Lowell G. Biddulph and Ruth Hobson Biddulph. He graduated from Madison High School in Rexburg, Idaho, excelling in debate. He received an A.A. from Ricks College (where both of his parents taught); a B.S. in Political Science, with a minor in History from Brigham Young University; M.A. and PhD in Government from Indiana University; and Certification from the Russian and East European Institute. He speaks fluent Russian.

Professor Biddulph’s professional life began as an assistant professor of Political Science at Rutgers University. For the bulk of his professional career, he was Professor of Political Science at the University of Victoria, where he served as chairman of the department. He also taught Political Science at Royal Roads Military College (Canadian Forces West Coast Military Academy); as a visiting Professor of Political Science at Brigham Young University (Provo, Utah); as visiting Professor of International Relations at the Foreign Affairs College of China (Beijing, China); as visiting Professor of International Relations at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (Kyiv, Ukraine). He was the Director of the Ukraine Special Focus Program for the David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies, Brigham Young University, and Director of Summer BYU International Volunteer Program in Ukraine. He was a visiting Research Scholar at Carleton University (Ottawa), Columbia University (New York), Stanford University, The Hoover Institute, The Institute of State and Law, USSR Academy of Sciences (Moscow). Courses that he most frequently taught were: Russian Politics: Domestic and International; Ukrainian Politics in the Soviet and Contemporary Eras; The Democratization of Authoritarian States; Religious Freedom and the Democratic State; International Politics: Globalism and Nationalism.

Howard was a brilliant scholar and educator. He was also a gifted writer. His most well-known book among members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is The Morning Breaks: Stories of Conversion and Faith in the Former Soviet Union (Deseret Book 1996). However, he wrote prolifically and was published in numerous academic, political and scientific periodicals, and by international publishers, including W.W. Norton and Company (New York) and Holt, Rinehart and Winston (New York).

Howard was a Hinckley Scholar, Ford Foundation Foreign Area Fellow, NDEA Fellow, Canada Council Fellow, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Fellow, AUCC Canada-USSR Exchange Fellow and received several research grants. He was an honored member of the professional societies associated with his field of research, study and teaching, including the Canadian Association of Slavists and the American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies.

President Biddulph helped to form and served as Vice President of the British Columbia Council for the Family. He was Chair of a Provincial Coalition which successfully defeated Casino Gambling in British Columbia and author of the widely used brief: The Case Against Casino Gambling in British Columbia. He also chaired the Victoria Citizen Forum on the Family, with 60 groups participating.

Howard was the official host for prominent international visitors from Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and other East European countries, including the Ukrainian Ambassador to USA, the wife of the President of Ukraine, members of Parliament, scholars from the National Academy of Sciences and Ukrainian media. He served as BYU emissary of University visits to Ukraine and Belarus.

As impressive as Howard’s professional achievements are, his true joy was found in serving the Lord and others. He has served as branch president, bishop, district president (both in Canada and later in China), and was called as the first stake president of the Victoria, B.C. Stake. Later, he served as Regional Representative of the Twelve Apostles and presided over parts of Alaska, Canada, Washington, and Oregon. He loved teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and ministering to His children. As a young man, he served a mission in the Canadian Mission with headquarters in Toronto. From childhood, he had an interest in the Slavic peoples, and he desired to teach the gospel to the people of Eastern Europe. In 1991, he and his wife Colleen were called to preside over the newly established Kyiv Ukraine Mission. During their service in Ukraine, the Soviet Union dissolved, and in 1992, they prepared and sent the first group of Ukrainian saints to the Freiberg, Germany temple. His love for the Ukrainian people has always been profound.

Howard was a tender and loving father and husband. He was a righteous example of unconditional love to his children and grandchildren. His wife and childhood sweetheart, Colleen, served faithfully by his side for 57 years before her death in December 2014. He lovingly cared for her during the 11 years of her infirmity.

After Colleen’s death, Howard married Laurel Cook Backman-Riddle, who helped him to recover from cancer and diabetes and make a remarkable turn around in health. They together served a mission in Ukraine (2016-2017) and Howard again connected with his beloved friends there. For the last 16 months of his life, Laurel has been Howard’s full-time caregiver as he has endured complete disability resulting from a stroke.

Howard was preceded in death by his parents, Lowell George Biddulph and Ruth Hobson Biddulph, by his sister, Barbara Biddulph ( 5), by his wife of 57 years, Lillian Colleen Cook Biddulph, and by grandsons Marcus Vail (6 mo) and David Gow (19). He is survived by his wife, Laurel Cook Biddulph, and children, Barbara Ann Sorensen (Vernon), Catherine Vail (Anthony), Helen Ruth Bertler (Rolf), Sylvia Lynne McGrath (Garrett), and Michael Howard Biddulph, and by step-children, Shane Mitchell Backman (Adriana), Melody Bearman (Charles), Miriam Coyle (Richard), and Dionne Kraus (Craig). He is survived by 12 grandchildren, 14 step-grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are siblings, David Merrill Biddulph (Colleen), Susan Sheffield (William), Marilyn Barrus Bradshaw (Jerald) and Stephen George Biddulph (Elaine).

Funeral services will begin at 2:00 pm on Friday, June 10, 2022 in the Oak Hills Stake Center, 925 East North Temple Drive, Provo, Utah. Visitation is from 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm prior to funeral service. Family may also be visited at Nelson Family Mortuary, 4780 North University Avenue, Provo, Utah, beginning at 6:00 pm on Thursday, June 9, 2022.