Gary Leonard Bjornn

Gary Leonard Bjornn was born August 15, 1937, in Salt Lake City, Utah to Clarence Robert and Evelyn Leonard Bjornn. He passed peacefully from this earth on May 14, 2025, with his family close.

His young life was spent with his best friends and brothers, Ted and Steve, his sister Joyce, and 2 of his uncles, Jack and Bob. They played sports, hunted, fished and golfed throughout their lives. In his teen years he moved to Bountiful and graduated from Davis High school. He later graduated from Weber State University with a bachelor's degree.

He served in the Army Reserve for 8 years in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. He was assigned to a Mortar unit at Ft. Douglas, Utah.

He was a good athlete as a young man and was particularly skilled at basketball and fast pitch softball. He played center field on the winning team of the LDS All-Church Fast Pitch Tournament in 1967. He hit the home run to win the final game and was featured in the Salt Lake City newspapers at the time.

He met Nancy Moss after a church basketball game at the age of 16. They were together from that time on to eternity. They were married and sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on October 3, 1957. They had 4 children; James Matt (Gina), Marianne Yates (Scott), Becky Wayment (Mark), Elizabeth Thornton (Don), 17 grandchildren and many great grandchildren with another coming soon. They spent their lives in Bountiful, UT, Gooding, Meridian, Rexburg, and Blackfoot, Idaho. They retired to St. George, UT after serving their first mission in New Zealand.

Gary was a professional salesman. He sold pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and ended his career as a State Farm Insurance agent in Blackfoot Idaho. He also served a brief period as a game warden for the Idaho Fish & Game in 1965. During that year he and his brothers Ted and Steve all worked for the department fulfilling a lifelong dream.

He was a crack shot with a rifle or shotgun and an expert fisherman. He loved elk hunting in the Bitterroot mountains of Idaho with his brothers and son. He loved pheasant hunting as well and hunted Idaho and Utah for birds. He fished many parts of Idaho and Utah and even made a few trips to Alaska. He helped his kids and grandkids fish, hunt, and learn the outdoors.

Dad loved to take the boat out. Not only for fishing, but to pull water-skiers and tubers, whether it was his kids or the neighbors. Many of us learned to get up on water skis for the first time with dad shouting instructions. Snow skiing was also a sport he enjoyed teaching. Nobody cheered louder at the ballgames and track meets he watched us participate.

He was a good golfer thanks to his father Clair and enjoyed golfing with family and friends until the end of his life.

He was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and loved serving as a bishop, youth leader, and high counselor. We all remember reading the Book of Mormon as a family, more than once. Gary and Nancy served missions in Hamilton, New Zealand, the Family Search Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the visitors center in Cody, Wyoming. They served for over a decade in the St. George temple.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, uncles, and his grandson, Jason. He is survived by his loving wife, Nancy, his children and grandchildren, and sister Joyce (Tolman).

His life was full and rich. His family will miss his laugh and life.

In lieu of flowers please donate to The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints Missionary Fund.

Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at the Bountiful City Cemetery, 2224 South 200 West, Bountiful, Utah.