Lee Mumford
1943-2023
Lee Wayne Mumford, son of Victor Wayne and Helen Hansen Mumford, was born on July 1, 1943 and passed away June 2, 2023 from acute complications related to a chronic GI condition. Many thanks to the EMS and medical staff for their care at the Sevier Valley Hospital in Richfield, Utah.
Lee was raised in Sandy, Utah on the Lazy M cattle ranch. He and his brothers and sisters were taught by the example of their parents to work hard, to work together, to love each other, to love their neighbor, to love learning, and to love God. He continued the Beetdigger family legacy and graduated from Jordan High School in 1961. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Australia, South Mission from 1962-1964.
He married Shirley Knibbe on July 29, 1966 in the Salt Lake Temple. He attended Utah State University and trained in the U.S. Army ROTC. He graduated in 1967 and taught science at North Davis Jr. High in Clearfield, Utah. The majority of his 29-year teaching career was spent at Union Middle School in Midvale, Utah where he influenced the lives of thousands with the lessons of earth science, math, and life.
Lee and Shirley built their own home on the Sandy farm. They raised seven children and served and loved within their family, church and community. In 1974 they started M&M Trees and raised over 3,000 pine and shade trees that now dot the landscapes of the Wasatch Front.
Summers were spent raising crops and cattle, building homes, fishing, and week-long campouts in the Uintas with sons and boy scouts. Winters were spent teaching, learning, hunting, listening to BYU sports, and serving members of the Sandy 19th Ward. He was a Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, Bishopric Counselor, Bishop, and Stake/Ward mission leader.
In 1997 he retired from teaching and realized another lifelong dream of owning and running his own cattle farm. Lee and Shirley made a new home and life in Salina, Utah on 300+ acres. He shared these 25 years of being one with the land with family and friends. He relished the work and opportunities to teach and serve others on the farm and in the Salina 4th Ward.
He lived his life mottos, inherited from his parents, to “Learn by Doing” and “Make the Best Better”.
Survived by: Shirley Mumford, wife, Salina, Utah; Dawn Mumford, sister-in-law, Alpine, Utah; Varel Wilson (Kent), West Jordan, Utah; Glade (Claudia) Mumford, South Jordan, Utah; Valayne (Steven) Larson, South Jordan, Utah; Royce (Lynette) Mumford, West Jordan, Utah; Kimra Douglass, daughter, Bluffdale, Utah; Phillip Douglass, son-in-law, Denver, Colorado; Vance (Tricia) Mumford, son, Monroe, Utah; Jason (Sharon) Mumford, son, West Haven, Utah; Troy (Ginger) Mumford, son, Fort Collins, Colorado; Blake (Sara) Mumford, son, Twinsburg, Ohio: Marci (Jeremy) Sorenson, daughter, Riverton, Utah; Todd (Lisa) Mumford, son, Clearfield, Utah.
28 Grandchildren; 5 Great-grandchildren, with one on the way!
Preceded in death by: Victor Wayne Mumford, father; Helen Hansen, mother; Neal Alva Mumford, brother.
A viewing will be held at 6:00–7:30 P.M. on Thursday, June 8, 2023 at the Salina Stake Center, 98 West 400 North, Salina, Utah. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, June 9, 2023 at the Goff Mortuary, 8090 South State Street, Midvale, Utah. A viewing will be held prior to the services from 9:30–10:30 A.M. Interment will follow at the Sandy City Cemetery, 700 East 9000 South, Sandy, Utah; under the care of Springer Turner Funeral Homes of Richfield and Salina, Utah
