LaMont Dennis Allen

LaMont Dennis Allen, age 90, was released from his struggle with various health issues that so often accompany old age. He passed away peacefully on Friday, August 18th, 2023 at his home in American Fork, Utah, surrounded by his family and loved ones. LaMont was born on November 3, 1932 in Provo, Utah, at the height of the Great Depression. He grew up in Manilla, a small community bordering Pleasant Grove. His formative years were spent as an only child helping his dad with their small orchard, flock of chickens, and beehives. He also helped in his dad’s business doing plumbing and electrical work. He learned many important values skills during this time that would largely define his adult life. LaMont attended school in Pleasant Grove and graduated from Pleasant Grove High School in 1951. He joined the army in 1952 and served in the Korean War. While in the army he earned the Korean Service Medal with one bronze service star, the United Nations Service Medal, and the National Self Defense Service Medal. He was stationed in Japan from January through March of 1954 where he received electronics training as a radar mechanic. He was honorably released from active military service in September of 1954. Following his military service LaMont enrolled at BYU where he met Sybil Verburg, his wife to be. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple in June of 1955 and attended BYU together in the fall of that year. Later the couple moved to Logan where LaMont attended Utah State University and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering. LaMont and Sybil moved many times while raising a family of eight children over the next 39 years. The frequent relocations were largely due to LaMont’s career as an Aeronautical Engineer where projects he worked on were mostly funded by grants from the Federal Government. In 1970 LaMont moved his family back to his home community of Manila, Utah where they lived for several years. In 1986 the family moved to Hollister California where LaMont worked as a Test Engineer for United Technology. A few years later the family moved back to Utah settling in American Fork, where they finished raising their children and LaMont spent his final years. Throughout his life LaMont enjoyed many hobbies and interests. He owned several aircraft and loved showing movies to people. He overhauled his family car as a teenager, later becoming highly skilled in mechanics of all kinds. He bought a movie theater in Pleasant Grove and ran it for several years. He also became a professor at Utah Technical College, teaching refrigeration and air-conditioning during the mid-1970’s. He supported his oldest son, David on an LDS mission to the Philippines, provided for the weddings of three daughters, and guided four younger sons to adulthood where each began and still have successful careers. LaMont will always be remembered as a devoted husband, father, and “Master of Many Skills”, having a unique ability to fix, build, or invent almost anything. LaMont was preceded in death by his parents, Ereva and Byard, sister Miriam and his son Steven Richard (Rick). He is survived by his wife Sybil, their remaining seven children; Julie, David, Patricia, Barbara, James, Daniel and Joseph, plus 34 grandchildren, 57 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren. To honor and celebrate LaMont’s remarkable life, a viewing will be held on Thursday August 24th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the LDS Stake Center located on 240 South Center Street in American Fork. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 am the following day, Friday, August 25th at the same location. A viewing will precede the service beginning at 9:30 am. Internment will follow the funeral service and will take place near the far west side (in the newer section) of the Pleasant Grove City Cemetery.

LaMont Dennis Allen

November 3, 1932 - August 18, 2023