Steven Lynn Sorensen's Obituary
Steven Lynn Sorensen died at his home on Sunday night, December 3, 2023, at age 76, surrounded by family. Steve was born to Henry Barnhart and Dorothy (Anderson) Sorensen on April 28, 1947, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
On December 29, 1971, Steve married Francine Rae Anderson in the Los Angeles Temple in Los Angeles, California. They have eight children together: Mary Sorensen, Julene “Julie” (Alvin) Merrill, Amy Sorensen, Anna (Michael) Phelps, Cheryl (Brian) Mecham, Sarah (Nathan) Rasmussen, Mark Sorensen, and Aaron Sorensen. He is survived by all of his siblings: Arlene Baldwin, Gloria Mackay, Sharon (Erwin) Haltinner, Harold (Madeleine) Sorensen, and Gayle (Fred) Ferguson. He and Fran have 13 grandchildren who loved spending time with their Grandpa.
Steve joined the Coast Guard when he was 18. He held a few other jobs, but the bulk of his early career was spent in the Coast Guard and the Navy. He retired as a Navy Lieutenant in 1991 after 20 years of miltary service. While in the military, he served as a ship navigator and operations officer. He also held various other leadership positions. After retirement, he worked for the Veterans Administration, helping other veterans receive their benefits and the health care they needed.
Having a good education was important to Steve, and this was impressed on all his children. He graduated from Granite High School and later earned a bachelor’s degree from Weber State University and earned a master’s degree and a Ph.D. from the University of Utah. He was the first in his family to graduate from college. Steve loved to teach and share his knowledge. While in the Navy, he instructed young recruits to help them earn their GED degrees, and later, he was a history professor at Salt Lake Community College.
Being an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served faithfully in whatever capacity he was called. When his children were young, he and Fran became involved with family history. Stories of their ancestors were often shared with their children, and new family history discoveries were celebrated with the family. He served several family history service missions to aid others in finding their ancestors. He enjoyed helping neighbors and friends with their genealogy, which he did faithfully up to a week before he passed away. He co-authored two family history books and wrote histories about many of his ancestors.
Steve and Fran always made sure music was a part of their home and part of every family gathering. Steve was a talented musician with a beautiful singing voice. He could play almost any instrument by ear. He was especially accomplished on the guitar and harmonica and also learned to play the viola, violin, and trumpet. All of his children inherited his and Fran’s love for music.
Steve had many hobbies, from building remote-control planes and boats to creating a full-room model train village. He was also a highly-skilled carpenter and created wooden clocks, tables, kitchen hutches, shelves, and a garden arbor, to name a few. He used his woodworking skills to make toys and blocks that he donated to a local charity. He was an excellent sketch artist and even dabbled in painting. All of his children have inherited this passion for being creative. He also enjoyed collecting stamps and coins.
Any animals, especially cats or kittens, were loved by Steve. He loved to cuddle with them, and they brought him comfort and peace. One cat was never enough.
Above all, Steve loved his family, and he was a devoted husband and father. There are fond memories of going “fooling” with Dad on Saturdays to give Mom a break. He never said he was too busy to spend time with his kids, and when someone was in need, he was always right there with a smile. There were few times, if any, that he raised his voice in anger. He said, “ I love you,” often. We will miss our Daddy, but we know that he is in a better place, free from pain and disability. Knowing that we are a forever family makes it easier to say goodbye for a time until we can be together again.
Services will be held on Saturday, December 9, 2023, at the LDS chapel at 7171 South 2700 West, West Jordan, Utah. The viewing will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., with the funeral service held from 11:00 a.m. to 12 noon.
Interment will be on Monday, December 11, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at the Utah Veterans Cemetery and Memorial Park (at Camp Williams), at 17111 South Camp Williams Road, Bluffdale, Utah.
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