Linda Leavitt

November 14, 1942 — October 31, 2024

Mt. Pleasant

Linda Swensen Leavitt was born November 14, 1942 in Ontario, Oregon. She passed away in her home in Ephraim, Utah on October 31, 2024 with her adoring husband and faithful daughters by her side.

 

Linda was a war baby, born as the first child to Max and Lucie Swensen in the wake of Pearl Harbor. Her father served faithfully as a Navy weatherman during World War II while his new bride raised their beautiful little girl. Six more children would follow and Linda worked hard through her youth to help her parents and younger siblings. She was a cherished daughter and a wonderful sister.

 

By the time she was 12 years old she was six feet tall. We can only guess that this was necessary to house all that ambition, energy, drive, passion and talent. She was a whirlwind and moved through life with an incredible flourish of speed, imagination and vision.

 

Two weeks out of high school, at age 17, she married the handsome Keith Alonzo Leavitt in the Logan, Utah LDS temple. His life centered around her. He was completely devoted to caring for her, supporting her and helping her shine in her projects and pursuits. Together they welcomed 8 children, 2 boys and 6 girls.

 

Her life revolved around her beautiful children that she “loved to pieces.” She especially excelled as a grandma, welcoming newborns, holding sleepovers, cousin parties, celebrating birthdays, baptisms, holidays and having tea parties in her little village of 3 playhouses.

 

Linda was immensely gifted. She was an accomplished seamstress, an artist, and a gardener. She loved reading and learning. A force to be reckoned with in the kitchen, she could cook a meal big enough to feed an army or can hundreds of quarts of garden produce. Mass production at high speed was her specialty.

 

Two main themes of her life were her love and devotion for her Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ and also her joy and delight in nurturing and serving her family. She had a pure mother's heart. She was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and truly wore out her life in service.

 

She worked endlessly serving in the church. She held many callings over the years. Perhaps her favorite was the Humanitarian Service mission with her husband. She used her sewing talents to make hundreds of blankets, clothes for children, dolls and toys, infant burial gowns, and many other things that were sent around the world. She was an organizer and a manager who got things done. She loved temple and family history work, spending hundreds of hours researching family names, indexing and serving in the temple. She has left a priceless legacy that will span through the generations.

 

She is survived by her husband, Keith, 5 siblings and spouses, 8 children and spouses, 29 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.

 

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 30, 11:00 a.m at the Mt. Pleasant 6th Ward building (461 N 300 W).  Family and friends are invited to attend.