Dee Lon Savage

Another member of the greatest generation has passed.

Dee Lon Savage passed away peacefully on July 31, 2023, from a sudden illness, with his family at side. He was 98 years old. His family is his greatest joy.

Dad was born October 13, 1924, to Albert Alonzo and Emily Olsen Savage in Hyrum Utah.

Dad served honorably in the U.S. Army during World War II in the European Theater, the Southern Liberation from 1943-1945.

After an honorable discharge, he served a two and a half year LDS Mission to Tahiti, reestablishing the mission after it had been closed when Germany conquered France in World Ward II.

He used his G.I. Bill to achieve a Bachelor’s degree from Utah Agricultural College and pursue a career in Education. It was during this time that Dad met his beautiful wife, Lola Carling from Providence, Utah. They were sealed in the Logan LDS Temple on May 25, 1951. They celebrated 72 years of marriage together.

Dad taught English and Music in Ely, Nevada; Downey, Idaho; and Jordan School District in Utah. Later, he worked at Thiokol as a technical writer for the Minute Man Missile. He then pursued his love of photography by opening a professional photography studio in Roy, Utah. He also ventured into show horse photography. In his final years of working full time, he enjoyed caring for, and beautifying our ward meeting house, a job he treasured! Throughout all his adult life, he would invent tools that made jobs more efficient. Many ideas and inventions came to fruition in Dad’s workroom.

Many life lessons were taught by Dad in the garden. He loved his greenhouse and enjoyed many hours growing a variety of different plants. We are going to miss his tomato starts that were 2 1/2 feet high when we transplanted them. He shared these with his family and neighbors.

Music has always been a huge part of Dad’s life. He composed, played, and sang many types of music. He was actively composing and singing music until the day he passed away. He submitted three hymns to the LDS Church Music Committee for the new LDS Hymn book.

Dad was a lifelong, valiant member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He fulfilled many callings and never stopped serving. At 98 he was serving as the Ward Music Chairman.

Dad served with Mom in the Philippines Ilagan Mission and the Colorado Denver South Mission.

He is survived by his wife, Lola and his eight children, Larry D. (Marilyn) Savage, Wade R. (Cynthia) Savage, Carol Savage, Carma Savage, Delene (Arvil) Christiansen, Wendy (James) Aurich, Cindy (Robert) Peterson and Blair (Ally) Savage. He has 18 grandchildren and numerous great- and great-great-grandchildren.

He was proceeded in death by his parents, Lon and Emily, his siblings Ruth, Greta, Jessie, Burt, and Helen Rae, a daughter-in-law Ronda (Jenkins) Savage, and a grandson Matthew Lew Savage.

A Viewing will be held on Monday, August 7th from 6:00-8:00 p.m. and again on Tuesday morning from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the Sunset 5th Ward meetinghouse located at 2431 N 250 W, Sunset, Utah. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, August 8th at 11:00 a.m. at the same location.

Interment will be at the Roy City Cemetery with full military honors.

“We love you the mostest, Dad!”