1947
Leon
2009
Leon J. "Lee" Badger
May 4, 1947 — August 13, 2009
Leon (Lee) J. Badger, 62, passed away peacefully at home on August 13, 2009 of Lou Gehrig’s disease. Lee was born and raised in Rupert, Idaho, to John Leon Badger and Donna Palmer on May 4, 1947. He graduated from Minico High School in 1965. He attended Utah State University and graduated in 1969 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science then continued his education taking business classes.
He met his wife, the former Shari Lyn Earl in 1969 at a Pi Kappa Alpha and Alpha Chi Omega Christmas party. He always loved to tell the story that Santa put them together. They were married on July 7, 1971 in the Logan LDS Temple. Lee accepted a job with Kmart in Fresno, California. They moved several times for the next nine years settling in Reno, Nevada, where Lee left Kmart and went to work for a local grocery store as their store manager. Their sons, Jonathan and Jeremy arrived while they were in Reno in 1978 and 1979. Their daughter, Jocelyn arrived in Logan in 1985.
In 1980 Lee and Shari moved back to Logan with their family. In 1981 they bought a grocery store in Smithfield named Jack’s Foodtown. Today that store has grown into Lee’s MarketPlace with three locations in northern Utah. Lee grew his company by teaching and mentoring many young people. Throughout the years, Lee always loved to be in his stores bagging groceries, talking to his customers, making sure the lights were bright, the floors were clean and shiny, and that the shelves were full and straightened . He was quick to help out someone in need and shared his vision and passion with all who knew him.
Lee was continually involved in the community. He loved serving many years in scouting. He attended the 1993 National Scout Jamboree in Washington DC and loved to keep track of the number of young men that achieved their Eagle Scout award. He served as a Scout Master and District Chairman. He was awarded a District Merit of Honor and the highest scouting award, the Silver Beaver. He was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, a true blue Aggie, and received an Alumni Award in 2009. Lee was a member of the Smithfield Lions Club where he served as president for two different terms. He was awarded Smithfield Citizen of the year in 1999 and just this year, the City of Smithfield named June 9th, as “Lee Badger Day.”
Lee had served on the board of Associated Food Stores since 1996. He served as Chairman of the Board for 5 years. He and Shari have many great friends and memories of their associations in the grocery business. They have enjoyed many wonderful trips with this group.
Lee was a faithful member of the LDS church and served in many callings. One of his favorite callings was serving as a bishop in the USU 43rd Ward. He cherished the time he spent with those students.
Lee was diagnosed with the devastating ALS or commonly called Lou Gehrig’s disease in July 2008. Although his quality of life changed quickly, he fought it bravely for over 12 months and is finally at rest.
He is survived by his wife, Shari and their children, Jonathan (Shelley Swasey) of Hyde Park, Utah, Jeremy (Becca Deems) of Federal Way, Washington, and Jocelyn of Hyde Park, Utah. He loved being “Papa” to his two grandsons, Brayden and Jackson and granddaughter, Savannah. He is also survived by his father and stepmother, John L and Vera Badger of Twin Falls, Idaho, his brother David (Kristie) of Rupert, Idaho, sister Marcia (Delano) Thomas of Provo, Utah and mother-in-law, Gloria Earl of Smithfield, Utah. He has many great brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws that have helped so much through his illness. A very special friend to Lee was Reggie Ravsten.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Donna P. Badger, his sister, Holly Hernandez, and his father-in-law, Don C. Earl.
Services will be held Monday, August 17, 2009 at 12:00 pm in the Logan East Stake Center, 1450 East 1500 North in Logan. There will be a viewing Sunday evening from 5 to 8 p.m. at Allen-Hall Mortuary and from 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. on Monday prior to the funeral at the Logan East Stake Center. Interment will at the Logan City Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenmortuaries.net
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the MDA ALS Division, 4578 South Highland Dr. Suite 300 SLC, UT 84117 or by calling (801) 278-6200.
He met his wife, the former Shari Lyn Earl in 1969 at a Pi Kappa Alpha and Alpha Chi Omega Christmas party. He always loved to tell the story that Santa put them together. They were married on July 7, 1971 in the Logan LDS Temple. Lee accepted a job with Kmart in Fresno, California. They moved several times for the next nine years settling in Reno, Nevada, where Lee left Kmart and went to work for a local grocery store as their store manager. Their sons, Jonathan and Jeremy arrived while they were in Reno in 1978 and 1979. Their daughter, Jocelyn arrived in Logan in 1985.
In 1980 Lee and Shari moved back to Logan with their family. In 1981 they bought a grocery store in Smithfield named Jack’s Foodtown. Today that store has grown into Lee’s MarketPlace with three locations in northern Utah. Lee grew his company by teaching and mentoring many young people. Throughout the years, Lee always loved to be in his stores bagging groceries, talking to his customers, making sure the lights were bright, the floors were clean and shiny, and that the shelves were full and straightened . He was quick to help out someone in need and shared his vision and passion with all who knew him.
Lee was continually involved in the community. He loved serving many years in scouting. He attended the 1993 National Scout Jamboree in Washington DC and loved to keep track of the number of young men that achieved their Eagle Scout award. He served as a Scout Master and District Chairman. He was awarded a District Merit of Honor and the highest scouting award, the Silver Beaver. He was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, a true blue Aggie, and received an Alumni Award in 2009. Lee was a member of the Smithfield Lions Club where he served as president for two different terms. He was awarded Smithfield Citizen of the year in 1999 and just this year, the City of Smithfield named June 9th, as “Lee Badger Day.”
Lee had served on the board of Associated Food Stores since 1996. He served as Chairman of the Board for 5 years. He and Shari have many great friends and memories of their associations in the grocery business. They have enjoyed many wonderful trips with this group.
Lee was a faithful member of the LDS church and served in many callings. One of his favorite callings was serving as a bishop in the USU 43rd Ward. He cherished the time he spent with those students.
Lee was diagnosed with the devastating ALS or commonly called Lou Gehrig’s disease in July 2008. Although his quality of life changed quickly, he fought it bravely for over 12 months and is finally at rest.
He is survived by his wife, Shari and their children, Jonathan (Shelley Swasey) of Hyde Park, Utah, Jeremy (Becca Deems) of Federal Way, Washington, and Jocelyn of Hyde Park, Utah. He loved being “Papa” to his two grandsons, Brayden and Jackson and granddaughter, Savannah. He is also survived by his father and stepmother, John L and Vera Badger of Twin Falls, Idaho, his brother David (Kristie) of Rupert, Idaho, sister Marcia (Delano) Thomas of Provo, Utah and mother-in-law, Gloria Earl of Smithfield, Utah. He has many great brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws that have helped so much through his illness. A very special friend to Lee was Reggie Ravsten.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Donna P. Badger, his sister, Holly Hernandez, and his father-in-law, Don C. Earl.
Services will be held Monday, August 17, 2009 at 12:00 pm in the Logan East Stake Center, 1450 East 1500 North in Logan. There will be a viewing Sunday evening from 5 to 8 p.m. at Allen-Hall Mortuary and from 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. on Monday prior to the funeral at the Logan East Stake Center. Interment will at the Logan City Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenmortuaries.net
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the MDA ALS Division, 4578 South Highland Dr. Suite 300 SLC, UT 84117 or by calling (801) 278-6200.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Leon J. "Lee" Badger, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
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Sunday, August 16, 2009
Starts at 5:00 pm (Mountain time)
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