Leland Ross Gygi

Leland Ross Gygi passed away on November 2, 2022, from a stroke.

He was born September 24, 1929, in Los Angeles, California to George Rudoph Gygi and Zella Hance Gygi.

He graduated from Granite High School and graduated from the University of Utah. He served a mission in the Great Lakes Mission in 1950. He married Karen Maurine Joseph on July 2, 1954, in the Salt Lake Temple. They were married 54 years. Karen passed away July 25, 2008.

Dad was always a hard worker. He served in the Air Force and he and Karen lived in several states. Dad served 18 years in the Air National Guard. While in the Air Force he was a Navigator. He used a Sextant and the stars to guide the plane to its destination. He flew in a refueling tanker, a KC97. He also flew in a cargo plane, the C124.

Dad flew many flights to bases all over the world. He would bring home many fun things for us. Dad became a school teacher and taught English, Speech and Journalism. He taught in Roosevelt, Morgan, Roy and Ogden. He enjoyed his time teaching and his students. Dad owned and ran Jolly Times Day Care Center for five years. He worked at IRS and then returned to Hill Air Force Base and worked in Logistics for 13 years before he retired.

Lee and Karen had five children: Janet Gygi, Kenneth Gygi (deceased) (first wife Paula Hill) and Nadine Smith Gygi Crouch (deceased). Darrell and Naowarat Gygi, (Christine Tate, deceased), Paula and Chris Crawford, Carolyn and Bart Bennington. He had 21 grandchildren, and 33 great-grandchildren.

 Leland and Karen served a mission in Thailand. This was special for them as their son, Darrell, was also living and working in Thailand at the same time.

Our dad took such extra special care of our mother when she became sick. He took her out almost every day for a ride. To museums, to go see the leaves, or out for lunch. He served her for about 10 years until she passed away. Dad served in the Ogden Temple and loved his time serving there. Dad was a Seventy for many years and he continued his missionary efforts into his nineties. He would often visit many people around him and loved to talk to his neighbors.

Dad loved walking along the parkway by Rainbow Gardens and would often take his lunch there to sit by the river and eat. He loved the beauty of the outdoors, good music and good books. He was a dedicated Genealogy worker. Most of all, dad loved his family. He loved for us to get together and provided many opportunities for everyone to meet in fun places and be able to spend time together.

Lee was preceded in death by his wife Karen, son and daughter-in-law, Ken and Nadine, daughter-in-law Christine Tate Gygi, and a granddaughter, Andrea Gygi.

Lee had a life of service and was a kind, gentle man. We are very grateful to have had him as the father of our family.

Funeral Services will be held on Friday, November 11, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. with a Viewing held one hour prior to services at Lorin Farr LDS Chapel 770 15^th Street, Ogden, Utah.

Interment at Leavitt’s Aultorest Memorial Park