William Ronald Youngberg

You know you’ve lived a good life when the first thing people do when they hear your name is smile.

William Ronald Youngberg, known by his friends as Rory, passed away peacefully, of natural causes, on April 5, 2022 at the age of 93. Rory always had a twinkle in his eye and a joke to share to lighten the mood. Of the many Rory-isms that he imparted to family and friends, a favorite was his response to “great to see you” - which was always “it's good to be seen”.  Now, ‘it’s good to see’ the legacy Rory left, making Ogden, the place he would refer to as ‘Camelot’, a better place for all to come.   

Born on December 20, 1928 in Salt Lake City to Bill and Betty Youngberg,  he graduated from Granite High School in 1948.  During those high school summers he loved his time working at Lake Yellowstone Hotel.  After graduation from High School, he went to Alaska to try his hand at panning for gold until the Fall, when he attended the University of Utah.  At the U, he was a member of the ski team and Kappa Sigma Fraternity.    After graduation in 1954, he served in the Air Force at Cape Newenham, Alaska. 

Upon returning home, he met Barbara Luella McCoy and they married in February, 1959.  Rory and Barbara moved to Idaho Falls where he worked for GE as a district sales manager before settling in Ogden to work at Goodbody & Sons as a stockbroker.  The firm was acquired by Merrill Lynch, where he worked until he retired in 1998. Through the years, Rory was very resilient and hardworking, always meeting challenges head-on and overcoming them.  

Rory felt a strong duty to serve his community.  He did that as a member of the Ogden Exchange Club, the Ogden Masonic Lodge #18, the El Kalah Shrine, the Scottish Rite, and he also served as a volunteer advisor and manager of SCORE.  Rory was a lifetime supporter of the Shrine Children’s Hospital, and contributor to the Barbara and Rory Youngberg Football Center at Weber State University. 

His favorite hobbies were flyfishing, skiing, horseback riding (a 50 year leader for the Shrine Mounted Patrol), sailing (Ogden PineView Yacht Club), beekeeping, small airplane pilot, and spirited booster of the Weber State University Wildcats.  His ‘do it ‘ attitude brought him many adventures throughout his life.

A 50 year member of the First Presbyterian Church, his family has faith he has been welcomed to heaven and reunited with his wife Barbara, family and friends.  His adventurous spirit will be forever missed but carried on by his children Lisha (husband Eric & family Danielle (Matthew, Sophia) and Steven), Kristian (wife Christine & son Ryan), and Lance (wife Bettina). 

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday August 6th at the First Presbyterian Church.  Welcome at 10am, service at 10:30am with a  reception following.  In lieu of flowers please make donations to The Shrine Children's Hospital at https://donate.lovetotherescue.org or call 801-536-3500.