Glenn Richard (Dick) Landeen passed away peacefully in his home in Draper, Utah, on Tuesday, April 30, 2019. He was 91 years old.
Dick was born October 24, 1927 in East Millcreek, Utah, the son of Gottfred Emanuel Landeen and Lisle Hixson Landeen. Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Rock Springs, Wyoming where he spent his childhood.
While still in high school, Dick enlisted in the Navy. During the closing months of WWII, his crew was assigned to serve on the USS Erben stationed outside of Long Beach, California. At the close of the war, Dick was honorably discharged and returned to Rock Springs to finish high school. During his senior year, he was employed at the Rock Springs Rocket Newspaper where he learned the printing trade. This skill helped put him through college and made him a valued colleague at every school he worked at.
In 1948, he accepted a mission call to Finland for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Traveling by train and ocean liner, and studying Finnish grammar on the way, Elder Landeen arrived in Helsinki that November. As he served for the next two and a half years, his testimony grew to become a sustaining guide for the rest of his life.
When Dick returned home, he used his G.I. money to enroll at Brigham Young University. It was there that he met his sweetheart, Marjorie Evelyn Toone, and they were married in 1952 in the Salt Lake Temple. They made their home in Draper, Utah, where they raised their eight children.
Dick graduated with degrees in geography and history and became a school teacher, a career which supported his family for over 30 years. His first teaching job was at Cedar City Jr. High School. In the next few years, he taught at Riverton Jr. High, West Jordan Jr. High, Butler Jr. High, and Indian Hills Middle School. He was greatly respected and influenced countless young people over the decades.
Dick was known for his love of the outdoors, fishing, camping, bicycling, bow ties, and Roses are Red poems. With six boys, he was involved in Scouting, attending countless scouting events. In 1978, he received the Silver Beaver award for distinguished service to youth. His family was his highest priority and he was always proud of the accomplishments and achievements of his children and grandchildren.
Dick and Marj served two missions after retirement, one to Finland in 1990 and another to Sweden in 1993. He loved the Gospel and served in many capacities in the Church, especially finding joy in working in the Jordan River, Stockholm, and Draper Temples.
Dick is survived by his eight children, Jeff (Brenda), Jan Johnson, Mark (Ellen), Scott (Diann), Steve (Arlynne), Mike (Paula), Todd (Andrea), and Alison; thirty-four grandchildren and thirty-eight great-grandchildren; and brothers Bob and Jim Landeen. Preceded in death by his wife Marjorie, son-in-law Bradly Johnson, and grandson Travis Landeen. Also preceded in death by his brothers Fred and Don Landeen and his sister Mary Karin Landeen.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 10, 2019 at the Draper Second Ward, 1617 E. 12700 S., Draper, Utah at 11:00 am. A viewing will be at the church Thursday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 pm and again on Friday morning from 9:30 until 10:45 am. Burial at the Draper Cemetery.