Our beloved father, grandfather and great grandfather, Jack Newel Stephens passed away Nov. 12 in Cedar Hills, Utah.

See 3 photos

He was born Feb. 28, 1935, in Wendell, Idaho, to Hyrum Grant Stephens and Myrtle Emma Clark Stephens.

In his youth, Jack’s family moved to Logan, Utah, where his father worked as a custodian at Utah State University. After high school graduation, Jack enlisted in the Army. During leave, he began dating Ruth Kennington, who he knew from school and church. They were married June 13, 1955, and spent their first years in New Jersey and Georgia where Jack fulfilled his military service. During that time, Ruth gave birth to twin girls, one of whom was stillborn and the other, Zyla Lee, survived only briefly.

After completing his service, Jack and Ruth moved back to Logan where he enrolled at Utah State University to study industrial engineering. In 1957, Ruth gave birth again, this time to a son they named Flint J.

When Jack finished his degree, they moved their little family to Ogden and he worked at Thiokol. Four years later, the Minuteman Missile program was canceled and Jack was among hundreds who were furloughed. He had a brother who lived in Indianapolis so he went east to find work and moved his family there. That was the start of many decades in the Midwest.

The family moved a few more times as Jack changed jobs every three or four years. They spent time in Columbus, Indiana, and in Dayton and Englewood Ohio before finally settling in Johnstown, Ohio, in 1974. During that time they had three more children: Newel Lloyd, LaDawn and Denisa.

For the next two decades, Jack and Ruth raised their family and worked hard to strengthen The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wherever they were. Jack served as a bishop, as a councilor in a stake presidency and finally as a patriarch for much of his remaining life.

After retirement, Jack and Ruth served a mission to Sacramento, California, before they settled in Smithfield, Utah, to be closer to Ruth’s elderly parents. Jack and Ruth were ordinance workers in the Logan Temple for many years and they also were volunteers at the American West Heritage Center for as long as Jack’s health allowed.

In November, 2022, they moved to Cedar Hills to be closer to family.

Jack is survived by his wife, Ruth, and by four children and their spouses: Flint and Anette Stephens (Highland, Utah), Newel and Carolyn Stephens (Anthem, Arizona), LaDawn and Craig Dalley (Plano, Texas) and Denisa and John Moore (Plano, Texas).

Jack was the baby of his family and he was preceded in death by four brothers, four sisters and one grandson.

He and Ruth have 14 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Jack loved gardening, hiking, camping and being outdoors. He spent many years as a Boy Scout leader and he enjoyed helping young men learn about the outdoors. After retirement he became a skilled wood carver and artist. His grandchildren and great grandchildren usually received handcrafted wooden toys as presents each Christmas.

He preferred reading to television and in the last years of his life he became frustrated when he could no longer read or use a computer.

Jack’s funeral service will be 11 a.m. Nov. 21 at Warenski Funeral Home, 1776 N. 900 East, American Fork, Utah. A viewing will precede the service at the same location from 10-10:45 a.m. Burial will be in the Highland City Cemetery, 6200 W. 11000 North.

We hope to have a live link to his services on this YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JedsGarage. If there is a problem with the live feed, we will post a recorded version to the same channel later that day.