October 8, 1934 ~ December 3, 2009

Our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, E. Dale LeBaron, passed away on December 3, 2009 from injuries sustained in an auto-pedestrian accident. 

Dale was born October 8, 1934 in Taber, Alberta, Canada, to Homer Neal LeBaron and Luella Pearl Wight. He grew up on a farm in Barnwell, Alberta, and as one of ten children he learned the value of hard work. 

He loved the gospel of Jesus Christ and served an LDS mission to South Africa (1955 – 1958), where he developed a great love for the people of Africa. 

He married Laura May Brooks in the Cardston, Alberta Temple on August 19, 1959. They recently celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary. They have six children. 

Dale earned his BA, MS and EdD from Brigham Young University. He was a teacher and administrator for the Church Education System in Alberta, Wyoming, and Utah. In 1972, he was given a 3-year assignment to establish the Seminary and Institute programs in South Africa. He was also a Professor of Religion at BYU (1986 – 2001).  

His Church callings included bishop, high councilor, and stake president. He presided over the Johannesburg South Africa Mission (1976 – 1979), during the time when the revelation on the priesthood was announced. At the time of his death, Dale was serving as a home teacher and as a sealer at the Mount Timpanogos, Utah Temple. 

Dale is survived by his wife, Laura, and children Debra (Keri) St. Jeor; Angela (Curtis) Cummings; Curtis (Jan) LeBaron; Rachel (Stephen) Huber; Shawna Hammond; David (Andrea) LeBaron; 33 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; brothers Homer, Eddie, and Glenn; as well as dozens of nieces and nephews who loved their Uncle Dale. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Pearl and Lois, and brothers Lawrence, Joseph, Melvin, and Donald. 

Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 12, 2009 at 1:00 p.m., at the Orem Timpview Stake Center, 1050 N. 600 W., Orem.  Family and friends may attend viewings Friday from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Timpview Stake Center and on Saturday one hour prior to services. Interment will be in the Lindon City Cemetery under the direction of Olpin Family Mortuary, Pleasant Grove.  Condolences may be sent to the family at www.olpinmortuary.com 

In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the E. Dale LeBaron Memorial Scholarship fund, which will be used to support BYU students from Africa. Contact LDS Philanthropies at 801-422-4444.

Condolences (16)

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Neil Carlile said:

To the LeBaron Family: We are very saddened about Brother LeBaron’s passing and want to express our love and condolences to your family. Brother Dale lived a rich wonderful life full of love and service. He was a friend, mentor, and outstanding teacher. He has touched many thousands of lives for good through his personal interaction and example and his teaching with CES, BYU, and many other opportunities. He had an outstanding understanding of the gospel and taught with great clarity and conviction, we shall greatly miss his testimony and example. With great respect, Neil Carlile and the BYU Education Week Staff

December 09, 2009

Coral Anna (Cartwright) Foster said:

Those of us from the South African Mission will never forget all the wonderful work he did all through his life from the time of his original missionary calling with us in 1958, for the people of all Africa. His sudden death saddens us, and our hearts go out to his dear wife and family. Now, his work extends to holier spheres.

December 09, 2009

Josehp Billy Johnson said:

Beloved Brother Dale LeBaron, I Joseph Billy Johnson, my family and the entire Stakes in Ghana have learnt of your sudden departure to the eternity with great shock and dismay. Even though we are saddened of your departure; we believe that our heavenly father needs you for a special work beyond the veil. With tears of gratitude trickling from our eye this very moment, we want your family and the church to know that we love you dearly and highly esteem and appreciate the great services rendered to the African saints especially West Africa, and we will forever remember you in the family and the history of the church in Africa. We wholeheartedly express our sincere thanks for the love you showed during your call to serve in Africa by our dear prophet, and in our language we say to your dear wife and family “DUE, DUE, NA AMANZDI HU, NYAME NKA HOM HO” (Be courageous LeBaron’s family for God is with you all ). God be with you till we meet again.

December 09, 2009

Elizabeth Shaw Smith said:

Dear LeBaron family, I loved Bishop LeBaron. He--and your family--were a clear and steadying signal for those of us in the Riverton Wyoming ward in the mid-1960s. Thank you for your sacrifices and love and example. The world will miss Dale, but he did a great work, both on a large scale and in many individual lives, such as mine. Love, Elizabeth Shaw Smith

December 10, 2009

Carl and Carol Bell said:

Dear Angie and Curt, We well recall how you admired, even reverenced, your father, Angie. To be loved as he was by one (and we suspect all) of his children would have been the blessing he most cherished with your mother. What a legacy he left. It was a privilege to be acquainted with him. One can only imagine the open arms and joy which welcomed him on the other side of the veil. But it's hard to lose him so suddenly, we know. We pray that you and your family are comforted at this time of mourning with the warmest of memories, and know that your faith will sustain you until you are united once more. With love, Carl and Carol Bell

December 10, 2009

Nola Cahoon Lybbert said:

Laura May Brooks LeBaron My condolences to you and your family from my sister Sharon Cahoon Kofford[deceased] I remember you living across the street from us in Cardston and either you were at our house or Sharon was at yours.. Many happy memories.

December 10, 2009

Kekeli Nuviadenu said:

Dear LeBaron family, This message seeks to express my sympathy for the loss of Dale. I was his Research Assistant at BYU after I had completed my graduate studies at BYU. He was great to work with, and I gained a lot through much enlightenment on the history of the church in West Africa, including Ghana where I was born. May you be strong at this trying moment, keep the faith, and know that our heavenly father cares. With sympathy, Kekeli Nuviadenu

December 10, 2009

Judd & Judy Kemp said:

To Eddie and all of the LeBaron family, May the Lord's Spirit comfort you at this time of your loss of Dale. What a great man and example he was. I know that he has touched the lives of many and will be greatly missed. Heartfelt sympathy, Judd and Judy Kemp

December 11, 2009

Lyndi and Nathan Thomas Family said:

We were so sad to hear about Brother Lebaron's death. We join these and many, MANY other in wishing the family peace and comfort at this time. Dale was an amazing example of faith, love and friendship. We love and appreciate his service in areas large and small alike. He worked hard at home and abroad; our lives were richly blessed by this dear man! We will miss him and take great comfort knowing that the Lord has a great work for him still. At times like this we are grateful for our knowledge of The Lord's plan... something which Dale's very life bore such a great testimony of. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

December 11, 2009

Marvin & Dorry Lou Wharton said:

I was very sadden to hear of Brother LeBarons death.  Although I only met him for a short time when he was in Texas to attend Larry's funeral I was very impressed with him and all of his sibblings.  Had I known he was living in Utah County I would attempted to visit with he and his family  My wife Dorry Lou and I were privledged to attend Homers wedding reception at the D.C. Temple.  I am appreciative to Homer for his work with my inactive son Dan in Greesboro, N.C. severl years ago.

December 11, 2009

Peter Gartside said:

I was blessed to have received the missionary discussions from Dale in 1956 in Bulawayo, Rhodesia, after which I joined the LDS church. By strange coincidence after many years we were re-aquainted in the 7am sealing session in the Timpanogos Temple on 11/29/09. My wife, Marein, who met Dale while he labored in Cape Town district, and I offer our deepest condolences to the LeBaron family.

December 11, 2009

Brian Smith said:

I'm so sorry to hear of Bro. LeBarons passing. He taught me in the Mission Prep institute class in Edmonton and helped me so much in preparing for my own mission a few months later. I will always remember his friendly smile and wish I could have known him better than I did.

December 11, 2009

Lucas and Koekie Erasmus said:

To the LeBaron Family: We are saddened by the sudden passing of Brother Dale LeBaron and want to express our love and condolences to Laura and family. Brother Dale was a loving and kind man whom we met in Zimbabwe shortly after our baptism in 1973. I was called to help him establish the Seminary and Institute programs in Salisbury and Bulawayo. He was and is a spiritual giant who will be remembered by many who have likewise worked with him, or had the opportunity to enjoy his passion for life, the gospel, and to win on a squash court. We will miss him dearly and appreciate all that he did, especially for us in Africa, and pray that we may meet again.

December 12, 2009

Jimmy Palmer and Barbara (May) Palmer said:

I feel very blessed for having known the Lebarons since my early childhood in the Barnwell ward. Not only were the Lebarons relatives, but they were very dear friends as well. Uncle Neal personally taught me much about gardening. There is snow on the ground here in Edmonton and it is 35 degrees below zero, but there are orchids blooming in our kithen and a warm feeling of love for our extended family and for the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is not the end but a new beginning for us all to look forward to. May God bless you eternally. Your cousins, Jim and Barbara.

December 12, 2009

Ken and Debi BrockBank said:

Dear Sister LeBaron and family, We were so very heart broken to hear of president LeBaron's sudden passing! What a fabulous man he was to all who knew him! He was like a 2nd father to Ken and was so warm and loving always! His passion for the work in South Africa was contagious, and Ken loved serving under him! He was so motivated by President LeBaron, that he decided to run door to door to 'get more work done'...he says he probably had many companions who hated him! We were so sorry to have missed the funeral!!! Ken has been out of town, and I am ill. Please know that our hearts are with you and your family! We love Pres. LeBaron, and look forward to associations with him on the other side again in the eternities to come! Hopefully, our son Dustin will have the opportunity to work with him... while they wait for our return! We love you Laura and family! May the comforter abound and lift you up as long as you need! What a blessing it is to know that we are going to be with those whom we love so much again for all eternity! Deepest sympathy!!! Love, Ken and Debi BrockBank, and children.

December 12, 2009

Lee Stevens said:

I have early childhood memories of going to the lebaron Farmer market in Lethbridge where Uncle Dale (he wasn't really my uncle, just my Mom's cousin, but we always called him Uncle) always gave us a banana or a slice of cheddar cheese. Sometimes both. When I moved to Orem, he was the high council represntative to the Northland Branch. I always looked forward to his visits. Then I bought a house in the same ward as Dale and Laura. What privilidge and blessing it was to sit by them at church each each. I was blessed to be in Dales's final Sunday School class. He wasn't the normal teacher but he taught that day. What a great lesson on modern revelation and church history in Africa. I am so glad to be Dale's friend, neighbor and relative. And I hope he has had a chance to say hello to my Dad too. Lee Stevens

December 15, 2009