Legrande Mondfrans

Legrande Mondfrans

May 24, 1925 ~ May 25, 2022

Legrande Mondfrans, born May 24, passed away May 25, 2022, 97 years later. He was born to Dutch immigrants Richard and Nellie Mondfrans in Ogden, UT. Being the first of his siblings to be born in America. His mother sent him to school when he was four and the school sent him home, his mother sent him back and the school sent him home, after a week of this debacle the school decided to keep him. Because of this he had to wait 15 months after he graduated to be drafted watching all his classmates leave for war. He served in the Navy during WWII in the pacific theater on the LCS(L)(3)66. While at sea he was lucky enough to encounter his brother Harry’s ship and spent one night with him. He earned the Asiatic Pacific Ribbon with one battle star, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, the American Ribbon and the Victory Ribbon. After the war he was called to the Netherlands Mission and served at the same time as his mother and father.

When he returned, he saw a raven beauty, LuJean Leek, and was smitten. They married in the Logan Temple.

Education was extremely important to him and while married with a young family and the help of the GI Bill he received his Electrical Engineering Degree from the University of Utah. When he graduated, he began working at HAFB retiring after 34 years of service as one of the highest ranked civilians on the base at the time.

He had many callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but the one he loved most was Gospel Doctrine Teacher for 40 years. When he was released some members of the ward missed his lessons so much, they asked him to teach a monthly bible study that he taught for several years as well. He always loved studying the scriptures.

Prior to his passing his children and grandchildren gave him a birthday party and he said it was the best party of his life.

He loved reading, motorcycle riding, camping, tinkering and innovating. In the early 1970’s when gas prices were high, he designed and built an electric car. The three things he hated were, cold soup, wet toilet paper, and smart alecks. His nine smart alecks loved and adored him.

A man larger than life who worked hard and always put his family first.

Legrande is survived by his nine children, Cheryl (Tom) Furner, Jeanette (Keith) Cragun, Mitzi (Scott) Cragun, Jeff, Kevin and Michael (Haun), Michele (Darwin) Cox, Curtis (Kathy) Mondfrans, Tami (Richard) Anderson; 52 grandkids, 73 grandkids, and 3 great-great-grandkids. He was preceded in death by his wife, LuJean; and a son-in-law, Keith Cragun and granddaughter, Sydney Mondfrans.

Graveside services will be held on Thursday, June 2, 2022 at 2 p.m. at Aultorest Memorial Park. Friends may visit with family on Thursday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd.