Dennis Blake Everett, age 76, beloved family man and disciple of Jesus Christ, passed away peacefully surrounded by his wife and children on April 24, 2024 at his home in Woodland Hills, Utah after a short, brave battle with cancer. He had no fear of death, knowing without a doubt that it is not the end and that he would be with his beloved family, past and present, again.
Dennis was born on January 28, 1948, son of Blake and Berniece Johnson Everett. He grew up in the idyllic small town of Mapleton, Utah in a time when there were more sheep than people, everyone knew each other, and there wasn’t a single stoplight. He served in the Central American mission as one of the earliest missionaries there in the late 1960s and was very happy to learn recently that a temple would be built in Maracaibo, Venezuela, one of his mission cities.
Dennis married Rebecca Fechser in the Logan Temple in 1970. They are the parents of Dennis (Catherine Terry), Joe (Judith Hale), Chad (Tanya Ludlow), and Carly (Simon Phillips). They have fourteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild. From when their children were first born until the end of his life, Dennis prayed
together with his wife every night for each of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren by name. He loved his dear wife and all his family. They were indeed the most important part of his life. He worked hard and made many sacrifices in generous support of his family.
He set an example of lifetime service to others including service in many church callings in his lifetime. At times, especially while living overseas, he held multiple church assignments at a time. Living in many cases where congregations covered a large area, his service included a lot of driving. His favorite assignment was as a teacher in priesthood and gospel doctrine classes. In later years, he enjoyed serving in the temple and indexing. He contributed nearly 40,000 indexed names to FamilySearch, mainly for records in Russian and Spanish languages.
Dennis served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, with assignments in various states and in Germany. After graduating from Brigham Young University with a degree in Russian language, he worked for the Department of Defense while also serving in the U.S. Army Reserve. His favorite career assignments included teaching Russian language to military and civilian government personnel. His dedication to providing quality learning experiences for his students led him to earn a Master’s Degree in Educational Technology from Pepperdine.
A renaissance man, Dennis loved to read in his extensive home library, study languages, history, philosophy, and many other subjects, play multiple instruments, and travel. He could speak Spanish and Russian fluently, had a good conversational and reading ability in German, and studied various other languages including Serbo-Croat and some Icelandic and Hebrew. He played the accordion from a young age and taught himself to play the piano and the guitar. He enjoyed singing while playing the accordion or guitar. He and his wife Rebecca used their musical talents to write lyrics and scripts for church roadshows and sang at family and church events. He also sang in church choirs. Dennis traveled to many places. Besides Utah, he lived with his family in California, Texas, Maryland, Germany, England, Hawaii, and Iowa, and had many travels there and in neighboring states and countries. He loved spending time in the outdoors, from fishing with his dad as a boy to camping and hiking with his wife and kids. He enjoyed skiing in his younger days and was even a ski instructor in Germany with his wife. Lately, he and Rebecca mainly enjoyed exploring the Utah desert for rocks and gems and kayaking on Utah lakes.
Dennis will always be loved and fondly remembered as the best husband, dad, and grandpa one could wish for. He is survived by his wife and posterity and his sister LaRaine Everett Wetherell.
The family wishes to thank the amazing Larysa Mitchell and the wonderful Annie Steele for their very competent and tender care during hospital and hospice care.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at the chapel at 220 Woodland Hills Dr, Woodland Hills, with a viewing from 11:30-12:30.
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Carol Everett says
April 26, 2024 at 9:09 amDearest Cousin, we are heartbroken over your loss. Your sweet Dennis was Kelden’s all-time favorite cousin, one he greatly admired. You and Dennis, along with Scott & Shar Lee, were always our shining example of what a good marriage and a good strong family should be like. We love you and your dear family and cherish our memories of time we spent with you.
Terri and Jerry Troutman says
April 26, 2024 at 12:33 pmOh, Becky, we are so sorry that Dennis is gone from your presence and sight, even temporarily. We pray he didn’t suffer. Jerry has cancer now, at 84, which has metastasized, but he’s still feeling well, just a little tired and weaker than before. I wish we could come to pay our respects and give you a hug. I’m glad we’re forever friends, at least we know the separation isn’t forever. My heart sorrows for you. God bless you with his comforting arms. Until we meet again.
Carly R Phillips says
April 27, 2024 at 5:13 pmI was so fortunate to have Dennis as my father. A truly a lucky girl. I could not not asked for someone kinder, sweeter, just everything you want for a father. I miss him. There are so many things we shared. I want to live my life to make him proud of me. I look forward to seeing him again as I know I will.
Rachel Everett says
April 27, 2024 at 5:29 pmWhen I think of my grandpa Dennis, I think of rockhounding (one of his favorite pastimes), mezuzahs (which he had posted on every outside door in his home) and Native American myths, as my first book on the subject was stolen from his bookshelf. I’m so grateful to have had such a classy, scholarly, adventuresome grandfather. I wish he wasn’t taken from us so soon, but his example of faith has helped me find peace in his passing. I know I will see him again, and that he will one day be reunited with his beloved Becky, my sweet and firey grandmother, who has shown such strength in facing this unanticipated loss.
Marshall Murray says
April 28, 2024 at 4:24 amI met Dennis in our early twenties at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California while we were students of the Russian language. Later in our respective careers we were neighbors in Odenton, Maryland and have been friends for many years. It has been a very special blessing to know Dennis in this life, as he is undoubtedly one of the finest men I have been privileged to know.
Condolences to the entire Everett clan at this difficult time. I join the many who look forward to a joyful reunion with Dennis one day!
Don Holm says
April 29, 2024 at 12:33 pmDennis is my uncle and something not mentioned in the very thorough and well written obituary is that he must have been very humble. I didn’t know he sang and played guitar, accordion nor piano. I can say that the one time he met my daughter at his mother-in-law’s funeral service, he made an impression my daughter still cherishes. He also was clear at navigating and staying out of any family drama that is always possible in such a large family of in-laws. I’ve never heard a bad word spoken about Dennis and since all his children are good people that is a direct reflection on him and his wife. He was also a handsome guy with a likeness to Paul McCartney as evident in the photos here. You’ll be missed and have given a life of service to others and been a good example. That’s what it’s all about.
Margo Swena says
April 29, 2024 at 5:54 pmHumility is a great quality he possessed, and I’m sure we’ll take that as well as his fine character talents, and his voracious love of learning with him in the next life. I respected him and loved him as my brother-in-law for over 54 years. He was one of the most interesting conversationalist, I’ve ever known besides my sister, his wife, Rebecca Everett. Both of them never stopped learning, exploring, expanding their spirituality, or their love for each other. I admire and respect him. He is one of the most Christlike people I know on earth. They were the perfect lovely couple and I’m grateful that I know they will continue to be the perfect loving couple when they reunite again on the other side . I am deeply saddened over this unexpected loss of your sweet soulmate, my sister Becky. Prayers for your comfort and for a blanket of our Savior’s peace to be wrapped around you and your family at this time.
Gilbert V White lll says
May 3, 2024 at 2:27 amDear Margo, you will always have a special place in my heart. It was so great to see you yesterday as the last time was at Orlando’s funeral. You take care of yourself. I sure did love your mom and I love your brothers and sisters too. Becky, Debbie, Christine, Jake, Orlando, and Ben make for a wonderful family. Love always from Gil
Sharlee Spencer says
April 29, 2024 at 5:15 pmI truly loved my cousin Dennis. I remember the early years when our parents got together and we did different things like reading, funny books under a blanket draped over the window and his house that was a highlight of when we came over to their house when they came over to our house once in a while, we played catch And one day and his junior high years he come over and he says will you teach me how to dance so we danced in my living room that day so fun I will truly miss him. Love to all your family. Shar Lee Knees I almost forgot we played cards a lot and he showed me a lot of card tricks and I still remember those
Jessica Gilbert says
May 1, 2024 at 9:41 pmI only knew Dennis for a short time, but I had so much respect for him and for the example that he set for his kids. He was so kind, light hearted and a gentle soul. My heart goes out to all of his family.
Gilbert V White lll says
May 2, 2024 at 6:52 amYesterday I was privileged and blessed to attend the celebration of life for Dennis Everett. His four kids gave wonderful and inspirational talks highlighting many fond memories of their amazing dad. The prayers were heartfelt and the music tender and sweet. The Stake President knocked it out of the park concerning family unity and quoting President Nelson on thinking celestial. For me the highlight was walking into the viewing in the relief society room and seeing the Fechser family and giving warm hugs to Becky, Debbie, Margo, Christine, and John Junior who we call Jake. It was like a Kolob first ward reunion has memories flowed from growing up together. Thank you so much for treating me like royalty. I love all of you. May the Lord bless you Becky during this difficult time and for all of us we need to realize that each day is a gift from Heavenly Father.
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