Alan Glen Applegarth

Alan “Al'' Glen Applegarth was a loving and caring brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and special friend to all. Al was born in Ogden, Utah, on April 29, 1936, to John Obrien Applegarth and Olive Annie Harvey Applegarth. He died peacefully at his home in Providence, Utah of natural causes on May 16, 2023.

He lived his early life in Ogden and graduated from Ogden High School in 1954. He married his high school sweetheart and best friend, Carole Sue Checketts Applegarth, on Oct. 28, 1954, in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple. He was a gentle, kind, and caring eternal companion as they journeyed through life together. He was especially tender as he cared for her the last few years of her life. They were blessed with two children whom he taught the value of hard work, service, and how to live their lives with compassion and kindness.

He began his career in the sugar beet industry, building and designing sugar beet harvesters and toppers at General Machine Company (Ogden, UT), followed by Heath Farm Equipment Company (Ft. Collins, CO) and the Heston Corporation (Nibley, UT). In 1976 he changed careers and began helping hundreds of people find their perfect dream home in the residential real estate market in Northern Utah as a Realtor and broker for close to thirty-five years. Al loved and was genuinely interested in all people. When describing people he met, he would often say, “they are just neat, neat people.”

Being an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Alan was a deeply religious man and lived as a disciple of Jesus Christ sharing his testimony of the Savior through his word and deed each day of his life. He served in multiple callings including in the High Priest group leadership, stake high council, Sunday school teacher, young men's leader (multiple times) and as bishop of a YSA ward at Utah State University. He was particularly fond of serving with the youth and was vocally optimistic about their future because of his confidence in their abilities to lead and serve. He was an avid temple attender his entire life, attending nearly every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday for the last thirteen years. He loved to do sealings and would participate in well over one thousand each year.

After his wife died, Al served as a volunteer at Intermountain Logan Regional Hospital. Just two weeks ago, he received an award for volunteering over 3,500 hours in the last twelve and a half years. Al said he planned to volunteer at the hospital forever, which he did. He was a friendly, welcoming face for visitors at the main entrance and in the gift shop. During the last few years he was assigned to gather and organize hospital wheelchairs; he was exceptionally good at finding wheelchairs that were hiding in unusual places.

Education and children were an important part of Al’s life. His neighbor, Camie Palmer, asked if he would like to volunteer at the kindergarten at Wilson Elementary in Logan. Starting in 2011, Al came twice a week to support practice skills in math and reading. At Wilson, the children affectionately referred to him as “Mr. Owl.” In 2017, Camie and Al started a new adventure at The Center for Creativity, Innovation and Discovery (CCID). This is where he spent his final day of volunteering, just four days before his death. At CCID he was fondly known for his expertise in sharpening pencils in the kindergarten room, first grade room, and the art classroom. He could get any pencil sharpener to work effectively! He shared his love of his country, respect for oneself and others, and that kindness mattered in and out of the classroom. He was loved and adored by the faculty, staff, and the children at CCID.

Al loved learning and was always learning new skills. He loved to bake and try new recipes. He was an avid gardener, planting his garden just two weeks ago. He grew wonderful vegetables and fruit. He often shared vegetables, berries, fruit, and homemade jam with his neighbors and family. He grew beautiful flower gardens for all to enjoy. He also enjoyed collecting coins and his grandchildren have fond memories of spending hours with grandpa sorting pennies.

Al is survived by his two children, Mark Alan (Shauna) Applegarth and Shauna Sue (Val) Jensen; his sister Dixie Applegarth Clarke; eleven grandchildren, Daniel (Heidi) Applegarth, Keresa (Shane) Walker, Valishia Hawkins, Kirsten (Stephan) Taeger, Anjillica (Adam) Navarro, Katelynd (Benjamin) Blake, Braydon Jensen, David (Katie) Applegarth, Myriah Jensen, Shanelle (Nick) Larsen, Shaunese (Marc) Luthy; and by forty great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife Carole Sue Checketts Applegarth; his parents; his brothers Boyd L. Applegarth and Monte Burl Applegarth; brothers-in-law Willard Craig Checketts, Paul Robert Clarke and John Clarence Cummins; and sister-in-law Gloria Gay Checketts Cummins.

There will be a viewing held at Allen-Hall Mortuary 34 E. Center St. in Logan, Utah, from 6 to 8 p.m., on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, and at the church on Thursday from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. prior to the services. Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 25, 2023, at 10 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel located at 155 N. 100 East in Providence, Utah. Interment will be in the Ogden City Cemetery.

Condolences and memories may be expressed to the family online at www.allenmortuaries.net .

Funeral services will be livestreamed and can be viewed via the link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84340635726?pwd=aUFYcGxTZmhQYlhMVVBaMEFEUHdGdz09

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the Humanitarian Aid Fund for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or the Intermountain Foundation at Logan Regional Hospital.