Dennis Farnsworth

Dennis Farnsworth of Sandy, Utah passed away peacefully on October 20, 2023. His life was full of happiness, good friendships, and exciting travel around the world. Dennis enjoyed golfing, camping, traveling, Disney cruises, and photography.

He was born March 30, 1945 in Caliente, Nevada to Maurine Winsor and Raymond Bartlett Farnsworth. At the time of Dennis’ birth, his father was serving in the Navy and Dennis was almost a year old before his father first saw him. When his father returned from the Navy they moved to Provo, Utah. Dennis was the oldest of 4 children.

When Dennis was 13, his father took a sabbatical from BYU and the family moved to Corvallis, Oregon for a year, and then they moved to Karadj, Iran. In Iran, Dennis attended school in Tehran and his family was able to travel around Iran to see historical sites. Dennis immersed himself in the culture and learned to speak Farsi, which allowed him to fit in with the Persian population.

At 16 his family left Iran and traveled around the world. They bought a Volkswagen camper van and drove across Europe, camping in many countries. His family left England on a boat back home to America to settle again in Provo. The Provo house was filled with many souvenirs and artifacts from their travels around the world, but Dennis said it is not the material souvenirs that count, but the memories that you have which mean so much.

Dennis joined the US Army Reserve and served at Fort Ord, California. Upon returning home from the Army, he left to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Eastern Atlantic States Mission in the Pennsylvania area. While he served his mission, his family moved to Alexandria, Virginia and lived across the street from Congressman Gerald R. Ford, who would later become President of the United States. Dennis became good friends with the Ford family.

Dennis met Sandra in Pennsylvania and they married and had a child while they were living in Nevada. The marriage later ended in an annulment. Dennis was introduced to Relva and they immediately knew they wanted to get married. They married and moved to Denver, Colorado where Dennis managed a House of Fabrics store. While in Colorado they had three children. The family moved back to Utah and made a home in Sandy where Dennis became a salesman for IKO Notions. They later moved to Midvale, Utah where Dennis worked at Patrick Dry Goods and served as president of the homeowner’s association at Briarwood Springs Condos. Many great lifelong friends were made while living in Sandy and Midvale. Dennis retired from Moda Fabrics and spent his retirement years traveling to Europe and spending time with family. 

Dennis is survived by Relva, his children Stephanie (Rick) Bell, Chris (Juli) Farnsworth, Danielle (Jody) Young, Scott (Paige) Farnsworth; his grandchildren Heather, Allison, Amber, Madison, Brandon, Allison, Lauren, Lexi, Logan, Jordan, Brooke, Kallie, Avary, Brighton, Ryder; and his siblings Kevin (Wendy) Farnsworth and Karalie (Scott) Clark.

Dennis is preceded in death by his parents Raymond and Maurine, and his younger sister Diane. 

Graveside services will be held at the Orem City Cemetery October 28 at 12 pm.