Earl Glen Clark, our dear dad, beloved grandpa, and great-grandpa, passed away peacefully in American Fork, Utah, on the morning of June 5, 2023, after suffering from a fall and a broken hip.

Earl was born in Lehi, Utah, on Dec. 13, 1928, to Melba (Goates) Clark, who had recently lost her husband, Earl Glen Clark, in an accident that occurred when his milk truck was hit by a train. Earl never knew his father in this life, and he looked forward to meeting him in the next life.

Earl grew up in Lehi, Utah, where he worked hard as a youth on local agricultural farms and was involved in high school football and basketball. After graduating high school in 1947, he worked at Geneva Steel for two years until he was called to serve in the North Central States Mission (Minnesota, North Dakota, and Montana) for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

After his mission, he enrolled at Brigham Young University for a short time before being drafted into the army where he served for nearly two years. He did basic training at Fort Ord, Calif., and later went to North Korea, where he spent the bulk of his service. In April 1955, Earl met Gladys Christensen on a blind date. It went well, and they later married on March 29, 1956, in the Salt Lake Temple.

Earl and Gladys started building their own home in Highland in 1967. They raised their four children there and lived in the home throughout their lives. On a frosty October morning while working on the roof, Earl slipped and fell off the house. The accident resulted in a dislocated elbow and multiple fractures that required hospitalization for about three months.

Earl worked as an operator for Hercules, Inc. for more than 30 years before retiring in 1992. He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many church callings throughout his life. Earl and his wife, Gladys, enjoyed working together for many years as senior missionaries at the Provo MTC.

In his later years, he could be seen reading his Book of Mormon and the newspaper every day at the kitchen bar with the aid of reading glasses, a magnifying lens, and a desk lamp. He also loved working in his yard and kept his lawn and pasture in pristine condition. In fact, he mowed his pasture the day before he fell and broke his hip.

Earl was always helping and serving others in their times of need. He was loved and respected by family and friends and patiently bore the afflictions of old age. He was a gentle giant who set a fine example and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Earl was preceded in death by his parents, Glen and Melba Clark; his older sister, Jean Christofferson; his wife, Gladys; a daughter, Marlene (Clark) Beckstrand; and an infant son, David Earl. He is survived by three children: Glen (Jolene Grover) Clark (Kennewick, Washington); Carren (Daryl) Devey (Alpine); and Janet Clark (Highland). He is also survived by son-in-law Don Beckstrand (Vineyard), seven grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren.

A viewing will be held in honor of Earl at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, June 16 followed by funeral services at 11:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel located at 6800 W. 9600 North in Highland, Utah.