Blaine Richard Worthen

Blaine Richard Worthen passed away on November 8, 2023 at Logan, Utah from causes incident to age.  Blaine was 87 years old.  Born in Murray, Utah on October 10, 1936, Blaine was the son of Donovan Hayden Worthen and Grace Middleton Worthen and was the middle of three children.  Blaine grew up in Midvale, Utah, where he went to elementary and secondary school and graduated from Jordan High School.  His parents were hard-working and God-fearing and taught Blaine those important principles through both example as well as including Blaine in the family construction business.  Their support of Blaine’s desire to serve a mission helped to begin a foundation of testimony in Christ.

Blaine served a mission from 1956 to 1958 for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Australia.  After returning, he married Barbara Allen on January 16, 1959, in the Salt Lake Temple.  They were blessed with three children: Jeffrey, Lynette, and Bradley.  Blaine and his family first lived in Utah where he taught elementary school.  They then moved to Ohio where Blaine received a doctorate in educational psychology.  Later career opportunities took the family to Colorado and Oregon as Blaine pursued a career as a professor and consultant. They returned to Utah in 1978 where Blaine worked as a professor and department head at Utah State University.  Blaine enjoyed spending time with Barbara and the children on many rockhounding and sightseeing trips throughout the U.S. and Canada as well as the British Isles.  A capstone trip for the family, including Blaine’s children and grandchildren, was an LDS Church history tour across the eastern and central United States.  Blaine and Barbara enjoyed cruises and traveled together.  They both shared a passion for genealogy and family history work.   Barbara passed away in 2011.

Blaine enjoyed various interests throughout his life including birdwatching, lapidary work, landscaping, and doing pencil sketches of his children and their families.  Blaine was an accomplished photographer and artist and enjoyed nature photography and painting landscapes and nature scenes in oils. 

Blaine was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  His church service included various ward and stake teaching and leadership callings.  He especially loved the time he was able to serve in the Logan Temple as well as time spent working with members in student stakes.  Blaine enjoyed helping others to learn the gospel.

Blaine was proceeded in death by his wife Barbara, his parents, and his sister Joyce Walker.  Blaine is survived by his brother Gary, his children Jeffery Worthen (Julie), Lynette Penrod (Larry), & Bradley Worthen (Angie) – all of Kaysville, UT; grandchildren Ryan Worthen (JaNae), Gilbert AZ; Matthew Worthen (Lindsay), Plymouth, UT; Cami Hess (Spencer), Mapleton UT; Nicole Dyer (Brett), Salem, UT; Angela Hansen (Jesse Wiseman), Herriman, UT; Kari Thompson (Ryan), Saratoga Springs, UT; Joshua Penrod (Cambria), Pasco, WA; Emilee Loftus (Ryan), Sandy, UT; Taya Hekking (Brittin), Nampa, ID; Kade Worthen, Bountiful, UT; Tori Worthen, Kaysville, UT, as well as 30 great grand-children. 

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, November 15 at 11:00 a.m. at the Lundstrom Park Second Ward chapel located at 1260 North 1600 East in Logan, UT. There will be a viewing at the chapel from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. immediately prior to the service.  A viewing will also be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on November 14 at the Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 E. Center Street, Logan, UT. Interment will be at the Kaysville Cemetery.  Services will be livestreamed; a link can be found on his obituary page at www.Allenmortuaries.com.