Kenneth J Mason May 20, 1933 - January 1, 2026

Kenneth J Mason was born on May 20th, 1933, in Aurora, Utah. He was the sixth of eight children born to William Gerald Mason and Inez Curfew. Kenneth passed away peacefully in his home on January 1, 2026, surrounded by his children. He was 92 years old at the time of his passing.

Kenneth and three of his brothers, Kenneth is in the upper left-hand corner

Kenneth was born and raised in Aurora, Utah, where he grew up on his family’s farm. From a young age, he joined his siblings thinning sugar beets, stacking hay, and driving trucks. He first remembers driving a truck when he was six years old. Kenneth never lost his passion for farming and kept a garden throughout his life. He was an avid organic farmer decades before it became popular. He loved experimenting with grafting, propagation, custom soil mixing, and cultivating unusual heirloom vegetables.

As a child, Kenneth displayed an insatiable curiosity and love of learning. Nicknamed “Professor Insect” by his family, he was fascinated with the natural world and eager to understand how things worked.

Kenneth’s brother Bernell, mother Inez, father Gerald, brother Leon, and Kenneth

In his youth, his ambition and sense of adventure were apparent. He excelled in music, math, science, and sports. At fourteen years old, he volunteered to fight fires in Yellowstone National Park, despite the minimum age being seventeen.

Kenneth and Elnora, “everybody’s favorite doll from the town of Central”

Kenneth attended Brigham Young University from 1951 to 1955, where he graduated with a degree in Geology. He was a member of the first ROTC unit to graduate from the “Y”.  While visiting home during his first year of college, Kenneth met his future wife, Elnora, who was working at the Dairy Queen in Richfield. They dated through Kenneth’s senior year at BYU. On August 23, 1955—four days after graduation, they were married in the Salt Lake Temple. Kenneth and Elnora were married for 69 years.

Elnora and Kenneth’s Wedding Day, August 23, 1955

Kenneth and Elnora’s life quickly took them far beyond the fields of rural Utah.  After their honeymoon, the couple moved to Lackland Air Force Base near San Antonio, Texas, where Kenneth was inducted into the U.S. Air Force as a Second Lieutenant.  His first assignment was to Primary Flight School at Spence Air Base in Moultry, Georgia.  Just before he graduated from flight school, he took Elnora to live with his parents, for the birth of his and Elnora’s first child, Kenneth Craig.  They made their next home at Webb Air Force Base near Big Springs, Texas, where Kenneth transitioned to flying jets.

Kenneth attended Advanced Gunnery training then transferred to Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico where their first three daughters, Cindy, Saundra, and Connie were born. One day, Kenneth was ordered to report to his squadron. He was not allowed to tell Elnora where he was going until a week later, when she learned he had been sent to Okinawa. Kenneth was gone for three months.

Kenneth, Carolyn, Craig, Cindy, Elnora, Saundra, Connie, Bitburg, Germany

After New Mexico, the family moved to Las Vegas for two months while Kenneth checked out on the F-105 before being sent to Bitburg Air Base in West Germany. Kenneth went through intense tactical fighter training while there. Elnora and their four children (all under 5) joined him 4 months after he arrived at Bitburg. They lived in Germany for the next three and a half years. Their fifth and sixth daughters, Carolyn and Maria, were born while they were stationed there. They loved living in Germany and travelling all over Europe. Elnora was able to study art and began a 30-year career teaching oil painting everywhere they lived. Travelling the world furthered Kenneth’s life-long love of languages.

Air Force Research School

Kenneth was accepted into the Aerospace Research Pilot’s School at Edwards Air Force Base, so the family’s next move was to Southern California. While there, he had six months of test pilot training followed by seven months of astronaut training. He became a test pilot and had the opportunity to travel the world testing new and experimental planes for the Air Force. While the family was in California, their youngest child, Dianne, was born.

Kenneth knew he would eventually be sent to Vietnam, and after several years working as a test pilot, he received orders to Takhli, Thailand, to fly missions over Vietnam. He was in Thailand for one year, where he flew the F-105.

When Kenneth returned from the Vietnam Conflict, the family moved to Maryland, where Kenneth was assigned to work at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, DC. After five years on the East Coast, Kenneth received his final assignment to Seattle, Washington, where he was the Air Force Representative to the Boeing Company. The family settled in Redmond, Washington.

Kenneth, Elnora and Family, 50th Wedding Anniversary

The family was finally able to spread roots in Washington. They made dear friends as they embraced living in the beautiful Northwest. During these years, there were graduations, marriages, and grandchildren. Elnora continued to teach in her large art studio while Kenneth stayed busy working with Boeing and serving in the church.

Kenneth retired as a Colonel from the United States Air Force in 1978. During his career in the Air Force, he was able to test experimental planes and try out unusual maneuvers. He flew at twice the speed of sound, exceeded 70,000 feet in altitude, shut down engines at extreme heights, and then recovering safely. He flew fighter jets, reconnaissance aircraft, helicopters, and vertical takeoff jets. He crossed oceans alone in single-seat aircraft and was a proud member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.

After he retired from the Air Force, Kenneth worked at Boeing, where he received praise for his expertise in organizational efficiency. He retired from the Boeing Co. after 15 years.

Kenneth and Elnora, West Indies Mission

Alongside his professional achievements, Kenneth lived a life of faith and service. He served in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a Bishop, Stake President, Regional Representative, and Temple Sealer. In 1997, Kenneth was called to serve as President of the West Indies Mission, where he and Elnora served faithfully for 3 years—an experience they both cherished.

Kenneth, Elnora Family, Elk Ridge, Utah

After their mission, Kenneth and Elnora returned to Utah, where they renewed relationships with family and made many new friends. They were delighted when their dear friends of over 50 years, Danny and Janice Thompson, moved across the street. Their friendship, forged on an air force base in Bitburg, Germany, was an unexpected joy in his later years.

Kenneth was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He and Elnora were blessed with seven children, 28 grandchildren, and 51 great-grandchildren, all of whom brought him immense joy and pride.

Kenneth lived with integrity, humility, courage, and faith. He will be remembered as a man who reached extraordinary heights—both literally and figuratively. In the last week of his life, he said he had “done almost everything he wanted to do, been around the world, and experienced things few have had the chance to do”—and that he was “ready to see Elnora.”

Kenneth is survived by his children, Craig (Melesia) Mason of Edisto Island, SC, Cindy Catlin (Leo Smale) of Monroe, WA, Saundra Mason of Spanish Fork, UT, Connie (Bruce) Irvine, CA, Carolyn (Scott) Conover of Lehi, UT, Maria (Eric) Carino of Sammamish, WA, Dianne Mason (Adam Meislik) of Irvine, CA, 25 grandchildren, 51 great grandchildren, and his brother Leon Mason and brother-in-law Ronnie Staples.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Elnora, six of his siblings, both of his parents, and three grandsons, Stephen Mason, Austin LaBato, and Howard Catlin.

He was deeply loved and will be greatly missed.

A funeral service will be on Friday, January 9, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 555 West 11200 South, Woodland Hills (Salem), Utah. Prior to the funeral service, there will be visitation from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the church. Following the funeral service, Kenneth will be laid to rest at the Aurora, Utah Cemetery where military honors will be accorded.