Harold LaNae Mickel
January 25, 1936 — November 29, 2025
Spring City
Harold LaNae Mickel died November 29, 2025, in Mt. Pleasant, Utah. He was born in Spring City, Utah, the second child of Harold and Dortha Mickel on January 25, 1936. He married Ada Jean Swapp and spent 60 incredibly happy years together before her passing. Harold was a man without guile, and a man who truly valued his testimony of Jesus Christ. He lived his entire life in Spring City, other than the years spent attending college and serving as a missionary. His heritage goes back to his grandparents and great-grandparents who emigrated from Denmark and England. They were among the original pioneers who settled his beloved Spring City.
Harold met Jeanie at BYU, and they were married in the Manti Temple on December 21, 1962. They had 4 children, Marli, Lori, Dan, and Matt. As a young family, we enjoyed vacations to National Parks, trips to the mountain, camping, and simply spending time together.
After earning his degree at BYU, he spent his career teaching math and science classes at North Sanpete High School for 32 years. He was a great teacher and had a profound interest in his students, often tutoring them in the evenings as they continued their education. Following his retirement from teaching, he stayed busy helping his sons with their farming and ranching business. He loved operating the farm equipment and riding horses.
Harold loved to be on the mountain. He spent much of his childhood there with his dad herding sheep, riding horses, and hunting for arrowheads. He shared that love with his family as we also enjoyed spending time on the mountain. He particularly loved the Horseshoe and spent much time gazing at it in his later years.
Dad had a sweet tooth. Tootsie rolls “grew” in his nightstand drawer for all the grandkids. He carried a tin of his “chocolate pills” in his pocket. Cookies, chocolate cake for dinner, Mounds or Hershey bars, pumpkin pie for breakfast were all health foods that helped him live almost 90 years.
Dad loved working and learning. He built an addition onto our family home; he fixed cars and tinkered with anything broken. He studied the scriptures daily and had an incredible knowledge of the gospel. He lived his testimony of Jesus Christ, serving in many leadership callings. At age 26, he was called to be the Bishop of the Spring City Ward after being married only 6 months. He later served in stake callings and as Stake President where his leadership blessed many lives. He served as a missionary in Brazil when there was only one mission that covered the entire country. He loved his time there. Later he and Jeanie served in the Rapid City, South Dakota Mission.
Dad loved his family. He chose to lead a simple life focused on what he valued—the gospel of Jesus Christ, family, time in the mountain, farming, sheep, horses, the temple, and time with Jeanie. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Harold is survived by his 4 children: Marli and Dan Walker, Lori and Darin Johansen, Dan and Shannon Mickel, Matt and Brenda Mickel, 18 grandchildren and 28 ½ great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Beverly Christensen, sister-in-law Karen Mickel, and many who called him Uncle or Grandpa.
He is preceded in death by his wife Jeanie, parents, brother Boyd Mickel, sister Dixie and her husband Garn Sperry, brother-in-law Ruel Christensen, and nephew Jeff Christensen. He is also preceded in death by his in-laws Archie and Margaret Swapp, and brothers-in-law Bill and John Swapp.
Funeral services will include viewings on Monday, December 8 from 6:00-8:00pm, and Tuesday December 9 from 9:00-10:30am, with the funeral beginning at 11:00 am. All services will be held at the Spring City 2nd Ward Church, 164 South Main. Interment will be at the Spring City Cemetery. We appreciate the compassionate service provided by the Spring City 2nd Ward Relief Society.
Harold’s family expresses gratitude to the staff at Good Life Senior Living Center for the tender and loving care he received there. We are so very grateful for all they did to make his last years happy and comfortable. When you see the moon, clouds, or the jet trails, think of him.
