Leonard Stephenson

Leonard Jay Stephenson

Leonard Jay Stephenson, age 82, of Ivins, Utah passed away peacefully on November 2, 2021, in South Ogden, Utah. Leonard was born on October 1, 1939, in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho to Leonard J. Stephenson and Joffre Alexander Ollivier Stephenson.

Leonard grew up in Lava Hot Springs and graduated from Marsh Valley High School in 1957 where he enjoyed hanging out with his beloved rowdy crew of lifelong friends and participating in sports.  After high school, he attended Utah State University were received bachelor’s and MBA degrees.

Shortly after graduating from high school, his family relocated to Syracuse, Utah where he met and married his sweetheart June Eliza Thurgood on April 21, 1961, in the Logan, Utah temple. They were blessed with four children, Lesa June Stephenson Pace (Mike Pace), Lauri Jo Stephenson Stevenson (Mike Stevenson), Lane Jay Stephenson (Dena Dutro Stephenson), and Lindi Sue Stephenson Oldham (Perry Oldham) and 15 grandchildren Kelli, Carson, Quinn, Tanner, Kortney, Corde, Cache, Kade, Emily, Sara, Hailey, Brooklyn, Shae, Daniel (Brody), and Anna. They are also blessed with 17 great grandchildren.

They raised their family in North Ogden but also lived in St. Anthony, Idaho; Heber, Arizona; West Point, Utah; Eugene, Oregon; Colorado Springs, Colorado and Flagstaff, Arizona. Wherever they lived, they made lifelong friends whom they loved and cherished. Many family memories were made camping, fishing, skiing, hiking and listening to Waylon and Willie on road trips. Leonard loved to read, bike and dance. If you were lucky enough to be on the dance floor with him, you will have witnessed him do “The Leonard.”

Leonard worked for the Job Corps, Hill Air Force Base, US Postal Service and the US Forest Service until starting a family-owned business, High Country Equipment, with his brother Dee Stephenson. This gave him the freedom to attend important life events such as sporting events, concerts, recitals, and camping and fishing trips where no man would dare drive a truck and camper with his family.

Leonard was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving in various callings but especially enjoyed working with the youth and in the church orchards. After retiring, Leonard and June moved to Ivins, Utah, where they served two church history missions.

Leonard loved living in Ivins near Snow Canyon State Park. He could be seen every day on his morning bike ride through the town of Ivins checking on new building progress and enjoying a hot beverage and good conversation at Lightfoots with Bob, his cousin Gerald, and many friends and family. He loved going to the theatre and participating in St. George Live as Orson P. Pratt.

He is survived by his wife, sister (Carolyn Howard), brothers (Dee Stephenson and Ross Stephenson), three children, fifteen very loved grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren and many beloved nieces and nephews. He has been reunited with his sweet daughter Lesa June Stephenson Pace, sisters Beverly Syphus and Marcia Beach, and his parents.

Leonard and June had many close friends from their missions, church, and neighborhood that offered them so much service, love, laughs, and emotional support. With heartfelt gratitude we appreciate the numerous rides to medical appointments and visits with June. Many messages and calls of love and support were sent to him these last few months that we often read to him, and they gave him a boost. We will all miss him terribly but are glad that he passed away how he wished.

In lieu of flowers please make a contribution to the Salvation Army or the Lesa June Pace Scholarship Fund.

Funeral services will be held Monday, November 8, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Rd., Layton, Utah. Friends may visit with family Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Monday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the mortuary.

Interment, Syracuse City Cemetery.