EPHRAIM– Earl and Leslie Clark, Spring City; have been chosen to receive the Ephraim LDS Institute Annual Sweetheart Award. The Friday Forum honoring them will be held Feb. 6, beginning at 12:30 p.m. 

The Institute faculty and students present the Sweetheart Award to a couple who exemplify the LDS standards of marriage and family. The Clarks are the 38th couple to be honored.

The Clarks both graduated from North Sanpete High School but they did not meet until they were both students at Snow College. Leslie knew who Earl was in high school because he sang and participated in high school musicals.

He was the same age as her sister, Virginia. He only knew her as Virginia’s little sister. That was disappointing to her, but they eventually officially met and dated in college. They were married in the Manti LDS Temple July 2, 1965. The Clarks will celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary this year.

Earl served as an LDS Missionary in Scotland from 1962 to 1964. He has been employed in construction and just retired after 48 years of service as Sanpete County Treasurer.

Leslie has worked in various office jobs and as an employment counselor at Workforce Services for the state of Utah. They have lived most of their lives in Spring City, next to Earl’s boyhood home. 

Earl and Leslie have instilled the love of music in their children and their family sang often and for almost any occasion.

The Clarks have held many church positions on both the ward and stake level. Among them, Earl has served as a bishop, in the Stake Presidency twice, and is currently the Patriarch.

Leslie has served as the Primary, Young Women and Relief Society President of her ward and has served in similar callings on the stake level. Together they have served as indexing directors.

Earl enjoys gardening, four wheeling and traveling. Leslie enjoys sewing, knitting, quilting and picture albums. They both love spending time with their grandchildren. 

The Clarks have put an importance on teaching their children and grandchildren to love the Gospel of Jesus Christ and have always wanted to make their home a place of welcome and love for their family, friends and all who come to their home.

The Clarks have three children, Craig (Lorene Lutz) Clark, Spring City; Wayne (Marcie Ball) Clark, Kaysville; and DeAnn (Jason) Aime, Eagle Mountain. They are the proud grandparents of 15 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.