Brian Leon Arnesen's Obituary
Brian Leon Arnesen, 69, of Pleasant Grove passed away Saturday, March 5, 2022, in his home after a battle with cancer. Brian was born December 16, 1952, in Salt Lake City, UT, to Leon Rudolph and Margaret Mary Oates Arnesen, the fourth of four children and only son.
Brian grew up in Salt Lake City, UT, and attended Olympus High School, where he drew political cartoons for the school newspaper. He served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Argentina Rosario mission. There he learned Spanish and was fluent in that language all his life. He received a degree in psychology and Spanish at the University of Utah, and later a master’s and Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Brigham Young University. He worked for five years as an elementary school counselor in the Jordan School District and 31 years at Wasatch Mental Health as a psychologist, specializing in helping those who had endured severe trauma. He loved these years and loved those he worked with.
In 1983, Brian met his eternal friend and sweetheart, Karen Thomas. They were married in 1984 in the Salt Lake temple and raised seven children, who have been a joy and blessing to them.
Brian loved the outdoors, camping and hiking with his family. He enjoyed road trips across the United States and traveling to visit the missions of his children. He loved reading and working in his garden. He loved being with his nine grandchildren, playing and imagining with them. He was a student of J.R.R. Tolkien and loved his writing and shared it with his children. He was a supportive and loving father and husband.
As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Brian served faithfully all his life. He loved serving in the nursery with Karen, working with the young men in the ward and stake, serving in the special needs program, in bishoprics, and as executive secretary at the ward, stake, and area levels. He taught youth and adult Sunday school. He loved family home evenings, and daily scripture study and prayer with his family. He and Karen always looked forward to serving a mission together. As a couple they served in the Argentina Buenos Aires North mission and later in the Guatemala Guatemala City mission. He loved His Savior Jesus Christ and His gospel and found great joy in his testimony. He was a quiet spiritual giant and an example to all who knew him.
Brian is preceded in death by his parents and his sisters, Kathleen Arnesen, Shirley Worthen, and Nancy (Robert) White. He is survived by his wife and seven children: Adam (Sarah Huggard) Arnesen, Sarah Arnesen, Rebekah (David) Warner, Spencer (Kaitlyn Turley) Arnesen, Hyrum (Haley Gordon) Arnesen, Joseph Arnesen, and Benjamin Arnesen, as well as his nine grandchildren.
Many people have asked how they can help the family. Please consider a generous donation to the general missionary fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
A viewing will be held for Brian on Friday, March 11, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the LDS meetinghouse at 1176 N 730 E, Pleasant Grove, Utah, 84062. Funeral services will be held the next day, March 12, at 11:00 a.m. at the same address, with a viewing from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. Brian will be interred in the Pleasant Grove City Cemetery at 700 S. 100 E. Pleasant Grove, UT.
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