Keith Alonzo Leavitt, age 91, passed away peacefully at home. He was a kind and gentle man who devoted his life to his family, his faith, and quiet service to others.
Keith was born on August 31,1934, in St. George, Utah, to Laurel Leavitt and Melvina Durrant. He was the third of seven children. He spent his early years in Bunkerville, Nevada, and at the age of nine moved with his family to Homedale, Idaho. Those formative years shaped his lifelong love of farming, the outdoors, and hard work. He especially treasured time spent farming and hunting alongside his father and brothers.
An accomplished and enthusiastic athlete, Keith lettered in four sports during high school. His strong work ethic and love of people later led him to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Eastern States from 1954 to 1956, where he also had the memorable opportunity to participate in the Hill Cumorah Pageant.
In 1957, Keith was drafted into the United States Army and served honorably until 1959, including two years stationed in Dachau, Germany.
Keith married Linda Swensen in 1960. They were blessed with eight children. Keith earned a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and taught school for several years in Idaho. In 1971, Keith and Linda moved from Idaho to Provo, Utah, where Keith worked for eight years at Jones’ Paint and Glass. However, Keith was a farmer at heart. They dreamed of having a farm, so in 1979, they moved to Missouri. After two years, they returned to Idaho to help run his father’s apple farm. In 1988, they moved to Mt. Pleasant, Utah, where Keith taught school again, this time as a Special Education teacher.
At their home in Mt. Pleasant, Keith planted a fruit tree orchard and tended a large garden. Growing, tilling, and tending the earth was the labor of his life. He loved sharing garden produce with family and friends. Many boxes of apples, squash, tomatoes, and garlic were personally delivered around the neighborhood each summer. Keith and Linda loved Mt. Pleasant and the friends they made there. It was where they spent some of the happiest and most fulfilling years of their lives.
Keith and Linda shared a deep commitment to service. For 20 years, they served together as Humanitarian Service Missionaries, giving generously of their time and talents. They also loved serving in the temple. Keith was a devoted and supportive husband, always encouraging Linda in her many projects and callings.
Above all else, Keith loved his family. He delighted in time spent with his children, grandchildren, and extended family. Cousin parties and family reunions were among his most treasured memories and he took great joy in watching his family grow.
Keith will be remembered for his gentle spirit, quiet strength, and unwavering love for the gospel of Jesus Christ. His legacy of faith, service, and family devotion will continue to bless generations.
He is survived by his brother, Leon Leavitt, his 8 children and their spouses, 29 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.
A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, February 7, at 1:00 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 450 N 200 W E, Ephraim, UT. Family and friends are invited to attend. Interment in the Mt. Pleasant City Cemetery with Military Honors.
To Watch Service Live, Click Here. The Live Zoom Link will Activate at 12:45 a.m. MST prior to services
Linda Swensen Leavitt was born November 14, 1942 in Ontario, Oregon. She passed away in her home in Ephraim, Utah on October 31, 2024 with her adoring husband and faithful daughters by her side.
Linda was a war baby, born as the first child to Max and Lucie Swensen in the wake of Pearl Harbor. Her father served faithfully as a Navy weatherman during World War II while his new bride raised their beautiful little girl. Six more children would follow and Linda worked hard through her youth to help her parents and younger siblings. She was a cherished daughter and a wonderful sister.
By the time she was 12 years old she was six feet tall. We can only guess that this was necessary to house all that ambition, energy, drive, passion and talent. She was a whirlwind and moved through life with an incredible flourish of speed, imagination and vision.
Two weeks out of high school, at age 17, she married the handsome Keith Alonzo Leavitt in the Logan, Utah LDS temple. His life centered around her. He was completely devoted to caring for her, supporting her and helping her shine in her projects and pursuits. Together they welcomed 8 children, 2 boys and 6 girls.
Her life revolved around her beautiful children that she “loved to pieces.” She especially excelled as a grandma, welcoming newborns, holding sleepovers, cousin parties, celebrating birthdays, baptisms, holidays and having tea parties in her little village of 3 playhouses.
Linda was immensely gifted. She was an accomplished seamstress, an artist, and a gardener. She loved reading and learning. A force to be reckoned with in the kitchen, she could cook a meal big enough to feed an army or can hundreds of quarts of garden produce. Mass production at high speed was her specialty.
Two main themes of her life were her love and devotion for her Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ and also her joy and delight in nurturing and serving her family. She had a pure mother's heart. She was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and truly wore out her life in service.
She worked endlessly serving in the church. She held many callings over the years. Perhaps her favorite was the Humanitarian Service mission with her husband. She used her sewing talents to make hundreds of blankets, clothes for children, dolls and toys, infant burial gowns, and many other things that were sent around the world. She was an organizer and a manager who got things done. She loved temple and family history work, spending hundreds of hours researching family names, indexing and serving in the temple. She has left a priceless legacy that will span through the generations.
She is survived by her husband, Keith, 5 siblings and spouses, 8 children and spouses, 29 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 30, 11:00 a.m at the Mt. Pleasant 6th Ward building (461 N 300 W). Family and friends are invited to attend.
Chris Larsen, well known as Boots passed away peacefully at his home on May 1, 2024, he was surrounded by his loving family.
Born on November 24, 1948, to Russell and Ruby Jensen Larsen in Mt. Pleasant, UT. Chris married Linda Bohne Larsen in 1975, they have 3 children Kimberly, Carl, Nicole and four grandchildren, Kaitlin Swensen, Matthew Swensen, Paisley Nielsen and Whitley Nielsen.
Chris was a lifetime resident of Mt. Pleasant and graduated from North Sanpete High School. He started working for Mt. Pleasant City in the early 1970’s. His first job was working for the Power Department dismantling the old substation. Chris also worked part time for the Police Department; in 1973 he was part of a group that started the North Sanpete Ambulance Association. Chris was also a volunteer for the Fire Department and had the opportunity to be the Fire Chief for several years.
Chris entered the Police Academy in 1981 and became a certified Police Officer, he returned to the city as a full-time officer. Working with the youth was one of the highlights of his job. He spent many hours speaking in local schools about drug abuse, child abuse and child safety, such as McGruff, School Bus safety, 911, and the Safety Kids where he used puppets to keep the kid’s attention. Chris served the citizens of Mt. Pleasant City until 1996, he then had the privilege to serve the citizens of Fairview for seven years. He also enjoyed his time on the Sanpete County Search and Rescue.
Even though Chris was not working for Mt. Pleasant City he still wanted to serve the citizens, so he ran for City Council and was elected. He planned to serve for one term but stayed for three terms, twelve years in all. During those years he was able to work on a lot of different projects that helped improve the city. With the help of many volunteers and many donations they built the Rodeo Grounds which has made our July 4th celebration bigger and better by bringing in a first-class rodeo. The last big project that Chris worked on was a bridge replacement with Alden Johansen, who was the contractor.
Chris had the privilege of being the Grand Marshall for Mt. Pleasant City’s 4th of July Celebration of 2023. He was very honored to be chosen to represent the city.
Chris is survived by his wife Linda (Bohne) Larsen, their three children, Kimberly Swensen (Magna, UT,) Carl Larsen (Mt. Pleasant, UT), Nicole (Cory) Nielsen (Riverton, UT) and their four grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his mother Ruby Jensen Larsen, father Russell Jens Larsen, brother Roger Larsen, sister Jean Christensen and his mother in-law Leatha Bohne.
Funeral services will be held Monday May 6, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. in the Mt. Pleasant Stake Center. Viewings will be held Sunday May 5, 2024, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. and Monday 9:30-10:30 a.m. both at the Stake Center. Interment in the Mt. Pleasant City Cemetery under the care of Rasmussen Mortuary.
To Watch Funeral Services Live, Click Here. The Live Zoom Link will Activate at 10:45 a.m. MST prior to services.Sunday, May 5, 2024
5:00 - 7:00 pm (Mountain (no DST) time)
Mt. Pleasant Stake Center
Monday, May 6, 2024
11:00am - 12:00 pm (Mountain (no DST) time)
Mt. Pleasant Stake Center
Monday, May 6, 2024
9:30 - 11:30 am (Mountain (no DST) time)
Mt. Pleasant Stake Center