Lee W. Mumford

Lee Wayne Mumford, son of Victor Wayne and Helen Hansen Mumford, was born on July 1, 1943 and passed away June 2, 2023 from acute complications related to a chronic GI condition. Many thanks to the EMS and medical staff for their care at the Sevier Valley Hospital in Richfield, Utah.

Lee was raised in Sandy, Utah on the Lazy M cattle ranch. He and his brothers and sisters were taught by the example of their parents to work hard, to work together, to love each other, to love their neighbor, to love learning, and to love God. He continued the Beetdigger family legacy and graduated from Jordan High School in 1961. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Australia, South Mission from 1962-1964.

He married Shirley Knibbe on July 29, 1966 in the Salt Lake Temple. He attended Utah State University and trained in the U.S. Army ROTC. He graduated in 1967 and taught science at North Davis Jr. High in Clearfield, Utah. The majority of his 29-year teaching career was spent at Union Middle School in Midvale, Utah where he influenced the lives of thousands with the lessons of earth science, math, and life.

Lee and Shirley built their own home on the Sandy farm. They raised seven children and served and loved within their family, church and community. In 1974 they started M&M Trees and raised over 3,000 pine and shade trees that now dot the landscapes of the Wasatch Front.

Summers were spent raising crops and cattle, building homes, fishing, and week-long campouts in the Uintas with sons and boy scouts. Winters were spent teaching, learning, hunting, listening to BYU sports, and serving members of the Sandy 19th Ward. He was a Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, Bishopric Counselor, Bishop, and Stake/Ward mission leader.

In 1997 he retired from teaching and realized another lifelong dream of owning and running his own cattle farm. Lee and Shirley made a new home and life in Salina, Utah on 300+ acres. He shared these 25 years of being one with the land with family and friends. He relished the work and opportunities to teach and serve others on the farm and in the Salina 4th Ward.

He lived his life mottos, inherited from his parents, to “Learn by Doing” and “Make the Best Better”.

Survived by: Shirley Mumford, wife, Salina, Utah; Kimra Douglass, daughter, Bluffdale, Utah; Phillip Douglass, son-in-law, Denver, Colorado; Vance (Tricia) Mumford, son, Monroe, Utah; Jason (Sharon) Mumford, son, West Haven, Utah; Troy (Ginger) Mumford, son, Fort Collins, Colorado; Blake (Sara) Mumford, son, Twinsburg, Ohio: Marci (Jeremy) Sorenson, daughter, Riverton, Utah; Todd (Lisa) Mumford, son, Clearfield, Utah; siblings: Dawn Mumford, sister-in-law, Alpine, Utah; Varel Wilson (Kent), West Jordan, Utah; Glade (Claudia) Mumford, South Jordan, Utah; Valayne (Steven) Larson, South Jordan, Utah; Royce (Lynette) Mumford, West Jordan, Utah;

28 Grandchildren; 5 Great-grandchildren, with one on the way!

Preceded in death by his parents; Victor Wayne Mumford and Helen Hansen and Neal Alva Mumford, brother.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 9, 2023, at 11:00 A.M. in the Goff Mortuary Chapel, 8090 South State Street in Midvale. Friends may call for viewing at the Salina LDS Stake Center, 98 West 400 North in Salina, Thursday evening from 6 to 8 P.M. or at the Goff Mortuary Chapel Friday morning from 9:30 to 10:30 prior to the services.

Live streaming of the services can be viewed at www.springerturner.com under Lee’s obituary about 15 minutes prior to starting time.

Burial will be in the Sandy City Cemetery under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield and Salina, Utah.

FUNERAL SERVICES LIVESTREAM