Earl Clifford Jorgensen December 23, 1946 - October 29, 2024

Earl Clifford Jorgensen of Spanish Fork, Utah, aged 77, passed away peacefully in his home on Tuesday, October 29, 2024. Earl was born December 23, 1946, in Duluth, Minnesota, the third child of his beloved parents, Andrew and Hazel Englund Jorgensen.

Earl spent his youth in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He graduated from Coeur d’Alene High School in 1964. He was a natural athlete and spent his childhood swimming in the lake, playing baseball, basketball, and golfing. He met the love of his life and eternal sweetheart, Julie Marlene Jensen, also from Coeur d’Alene, at a bonfire party. As he proudly and often stated, “I met Julie on March 31, 1967, and married her 6 months later.” They married in Coeur d’Alene on September 16, 1967, and were later sealed for time and all eternity in the Cardston Alberta Temple on May 29, 1971. Earl worked for the Washington State Highway Commission during their early marriage, and then as an insurance salesman for State Farm Insurance in Vancouver, Washington.

In 1981, Earl and Julie moved their family to Elk Ridge, Utah, when Earl began his career working for DHI Computing Service in Provo, Utah. He would spend the rest of his professional career at DHI, retiring in 2011.

Earl loved many things. Among many of those things were precision and order – his yard, home, office, personal life and spiritual life were laced with order. He learned these principles as a young child from his father. He carried this precision and order throughout his life where it served him well in all of his capacities.

Earl loved our country. He patriotically hung his American flag each morning at the front of his home to display his love and respect for our freedom and veterans. He was very proud of his son, Joseph, for attending West Point and selflessly serving our country.

Earl loved BYU. This love grew deep from his time serving as bishop of the BYU 101st singles ward. In his leisure time, Earl loved attending BYU football and basketball games. He later converted his time, attention, and energy to BYU women’s soccer and gymnastics, when two of his granddaughters earned athletic scholarships on these teams. When Earl wasn’t wearing his temple clothing, he was reppin’ the “Y”.

Earl loved people. He was social and could make conversation with nearly everyone. This skill served him well both in his professional, personal, and spiritual labors. He had many dear friends throughout his life. In his later years, he loved long walks and stopping to visit with those he encountered. Earl blessed the lives of so many and left everyone he interacted with better than he found them.

Earl’s biggest love was his family. He spoke often, and to everyone – whether friend, new acquaintance, or stranger in the check-out line – of his wife, his ten children, his 50 grandchildren (25 girls and 25 boys), and six great-grandchildren. He often said his family “is the best thing I ever did” and had a motto of “No Empty Chairs”. His family is his greatest joy and legacy.

Earl was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at age 20 and remained a faithful member throughout his life. He graciously served in many capacities as an early morning seminary teacher, Young Men’s leader, bishop, stake president, stake patriarch, and temple sealer. Earl spent his life anticipating his opportunity to serve as a missionary for the Church, and upon retirement, he and Julie served two missions. They were first called to the Thailand Bangkok Mission, offering humanitarian aid in Laos, and secondly to the Texas Lubbock Mission, teaching at the institute of religion. Earl had an unshakable testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel that he shared tenderly (and often) with anyone who would listen. He spent his remaining days, alongside his sweetheart, serving and worshiping – almost daily – in the House of the Lord.

Earl is survived by his loving wife, Julie; two sisters, Arlene Calhoun and Vivian Blood (Virgil); ten children, Kenneth (Tracy), Jayne Bingham (Darren), Jill Barrick (John), Justin (Jennifer), Nathan (Lynnsey), Joseph (Andrea), Scott (Kyoko), Jeffrey (Laci), Blake (Sarah), and Brita Cummings (Sam); 50 grandchildren; and six great-grandchilden. Earl is preceded in death by his brother Lyle, his parents Andrew and Hazel, brother-in-law Clifford Calhoun, and grandson Magnus Cummings.

Funeral services will be held at the Sunny Ridge Stake Center located at 2188 East 100 South in Spanish Fork, Utah, on Friday, November 8, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Viewings will be held Thursday, November 7th from 6:00-7:30 p.m. and before the funeral service from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Interment to follow at the Spanish Fork City Cemetery.

We invite all those who wish to honor Earl to come celebrate his beautiful life at these services. Please share memories at the Walker Funeral Home website.