Leslie Harper

In loving memory of Leslie Keith Harper

Les passed away on December 17 at age 96, surrounded by loving family. He maintained his sharp memory, sense of humor, and gratitude to the end.

 Les was born at home on November 10, 1929, in Burch Creek, Weber County, Utah. He later said, “I did not cause the depression but was certainly in on the beginning of it.” He was the sixth of ten children, eight boys and two girls.

It was a happy childhood, full of activities with extended family and neighborhood friends. Water fights and homemade ice cream on the front lawn, wrestling matches with his brothers, fresh buttermilk from the local dairy—all you could drink for 5 cents a cup. The depression had little effect on him, and it seemed a normal thing to cut out layers of cardboard from a Wheaties box to line his shoes when the soles wore out.

Les remembered a childhood home full of unconditional love with a gentle mother who was not easily provoked, even when rowdy boys pulled mattresses off their beds for tumbling and wrestling matches. His father often turned down promotions at work that would require him to be away from home on the sabbath so they could attend church together.

In high school, Les described himself as a gym rat who never took a book home. His favorite subject was basketball, and he would play every day after school until the gym closed. He also did track and competed in the high jump in the L.A. Coliseum.

In 1948, at eighteen years old, Les joined the U.S. Air Force. He served in Japan during the Korean War, rising to the rank of Wing Sergeant Major. Les had a deep love for our country and was proud to have served—along with all of his brothers.

The GI Bill gave Les the means to get an education. In the fall of 1952, he enrolled at BYU to study Chemical Engineering. But schooling took a back seat when he was set up on a blind date with a beautiful redhead. 

It was love at first sight for Les. He took one look at Doris and thought, “That will work for me.”They were together constantly after their first date and were engaged in six weeks. Les went to California to work for the six months of their engagement. The separation was hard for both of them, but they exchanged many letters. Les wrote, “Oh, if I could just hold you in my arms instead of writing this damn letter, my troubles would be over.” A letter from Doris ended with,“And even though I miss you so very much, I couldn’t be happier because I’m so in love, and to think that the most wonderful fellow in the world has asked me to marry him. I think I’m the luckiest girl ever.”

They were married in the Salt Lake City temple on September 8, 1953, and headed to Southern California with $10 and a lot of dreams. For their first year of marriage, they lived with Les’ brother Tom and his wife Dee and appreciated their gracious hospitality. Les attended Chaffey Junior College, sold Kirby vacuums, and worked nights at a gas station while Doris found secretarial work. Their daughter Laura was born the next year.

Les and Doris returned to BYU. Even with the GI Bill, it was challenging to pay for tuition, books, and living expenses. Summer work was hard to come by. Les stacked cans at Eddington Cannery for 75 cents an hour. In 1955, he went to Geneva Steel and begged for a job, saying he didn’t care if it was sweeping floors; he just needed any job so he could finish school. To his surprise, they hired him as a junior engineer. For the next two years, he alternated swing and graveyard shifts while carrying 18 hours at BYU. During one of his quick trips home, Laura (2 ½years old) asked where Daddy lived.

Larry was born during that busy time. After graduation, Les continued working at Geneva Steel. In 1958, Mike joined their family. Four years later, Les began working at Hercules. They moved to a new house on 4521 West Point Drive in Kearns, where Linda was born a year later.

Then began the “building” phase of their life. Les served as an agent bishop during the construction of the chapel in Academy Park, a time when missionaries were called to build churches and ward members did much of the work. Les helped with fundraising, met with the architect and subcontractors, and put in over three hundred hours of physical labor along with ward members. Both Les and Doris felt it was an honor for him to serve as bishop during the entire period of construction and dedication, and for two years after, for a total of eight years as the first bishop of the Kearns 17th ward. In 1972, Les was called as stake president, which included more building, this time the Salt Lake Macaroni and Noodle Co. as a stake welfare project. Les was an integral part of the building and the success of the factory.

Even though Les spent many hours at work and in church callings, he always made time to play with his family. Camping at Spirit Lake, water skiing, and many family reunions are treasured memories.

In 1978, Les and Doris made the big decision to change careers and move to Southern California to manage the LA office of Columbia Pest Control, where they lived until 2001, when Les retired at 72. Their home in Diamond Bar was a favorite vacation spot for their ten grandchildren—full of love and fun traditions of piñatas and movie nights in the backyard, playing in the spa, trips to Disneyland, and the beach.

After Les’ retirement, they built a beautiful home in Draper. Les said if they had five years there, it would be the best time of their lives. Instead, they had sixteen wonderful years together before Doris passed in 2018.

He was preceded in death by his wife Doris, their son Mike, great-grandson Jordan, and eight siblings. Les is survived by his children, Laura (Bevan), Larry, and Linda (Steve), 10 grandchildren, and 35 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service for the family will be held on Saturday, December 27, at 11 a.m. at Anderson and Sons Mortuary, Lone Peak Chapel, 6141 West 11000 North in Highland, Utah.