Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Remembering our Dad...

STEVEN RAY SORENSEN (1949 -2009)
Steven Ray Sorensen was born Oct. 18, 1949, in Mesa, AZ, to Bert and Raeola Sorensen. His early years were spent at the P.Z. Ranch near Winkelman, AZ. By age five, his family had located to Phoenix, AZ; and at age 14 to Winslow, AZ, where Steve graduated from Winslow High School in 1967.
Steve began college at Northern Arizona University on a music scholarship. He interrupted his education to serve as an LDS missionary in the Kentucky/ Tennessee mission. After his mission, he continued his education at Ricks College in Rexburg, ID, and later at Brigham Young University in Provo, UT, where he earned a B.S. in history and a M.S. in library science.
Steve's greatest loves were his family, LDS church history and fishing a dry fly. In 1974, Steve married Mareen Peterson in the LDS temple in Provo. In 1980, he began a distinguished career as an archivist for the church, serving many years as the Director of Church Archives, a stimulating job that took him to many areas of the world. Steve's significant contributions to the preservation of the church's history were acknowledged by many, including the Mormon History Association, which awarded him its highest distinction in 2006. At the time of his death, he was an editor of the Joseph Smith Papers.
Steve's earthly life ended May 29, 2009, at the Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto, CA, where he had been a lung-transplant recipient following a long battle with pulmonary fibrosis. He slipped quietly away surrounded by his wife and seven children.
Steve is survived by his wife Mareen; seven children, Dane (Cassandra), Kirsten (Jason) Carson, Andrew (Merilee), Ernest (Melanie), Jon, Annikka (Jason) Fluckiger, Curtis (Emily); 11 grandchildren; five siblings Douglas, Susan Bryson, Andrea Rhoton, Gwen Higginson, Jean Zufelt; and his parents.
Steve's family wishes to thank the doctors and nurses at the Stanford University Medical Center, including the Heart and Lung Transplant team, as well as Dr. Tracy Hill in Provo, UT, who worked tirelessly to allow Steve to spend more precious time with his family and loved ones.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 4, at 11 a.m., at the Sharon East Stake Center at 1060 E. 2400 N., Provo, UT. Public viewings will be held on Wednesday, 6-8 p.m., at the Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary, at 495 S. State, Orem, UT; and preceding the funeral service at 9:45-10:45 a.m. Interment will be at the Pineview Cemetery, on Highway 47 in Ashton, ID, on Saturday, June 6, at noon. Condolences at http://www.sundbergolpinmortuary.com/.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis, http://www.coalitionforpf.org/cpf_contribute.php.

We will all miss dad's personality, listening ear, and tenderness with the grandkids. We feel fortunate that we were able to spend some quality time with dad this past year (especially Hayden). Visiting the Cabin at Warm River and staring out at the Teton mountains will never quite be the same. Dad, you will be sorely missed. We love you.





Grandpa with baby Gracie



7 comments:

Chris and Deb said...

Oh Merilee and Andrew I am so sorry. My deepest sympathies are with you are your family. What a tender picture with Gracie, which I am sure she will treasure forever. My thoughts and prayers are with you. what a great tribute in his obituary.

amber said...

Andrew and Merilee please accept our thoughts, prayers and condolences. My heart is full knowing how much he is loved and missed by his beautiful family.

Kim Ward said...

Merilee and Andrew-
I'm so sorry. I cannot imagine how you must be missig him. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.

derek and michelle said...

Im so sorry for your loss. You will be in my prayers.

April said...

Merilee I am so sorry to hear about your dad. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I love that picture of Gracie with her grandpa:)

Dawn said...

It was wonderful to spend time with you guys and your sweet children; I love that picture of Steve with Gracie. I was wondering if you could get Andrew to post the quote from Alma Ash that Steve sent him in his email; I thought it might be appropriate to share that with everyone for Father's Day...if Andrew wouldn't mind. Happy Father's Day, Andrew...you are a great father also!

AuttieLane said...

I recently lost my father to PF and found your blog post in a search today. I am starting a blog about dealing with the loss of my father to PF. I hope it will be something that helps me heal as well as aid others who have lost a loved one. I would value anything you would like to share about your experience and would like to share with you my blog. I am so sorry for your loss.
http://whenilostmydad.blogspot.com/