Paul Sorenson

Gordon Paul Sorenson, age 87, passed away peacefully on November 20, 2024 in Bountiful, Utah. Paul was born June 19, 1937 in Montpelier, Idaho, son of Arthur Paul Sorenson and Gertrude Wuthrich Sorenson. Paul attended elementary and high school in Montpelier, where he graduated as a member of the National Honor Society. He was always thankful for and spoke often of his friends, teachers and associates from his childhood years in Montpelier.

Paul married Sylvia May Cropper on February 3, 1961 in the Salt Lake City Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with the marriage ceremony conducted by President Hugh B. Brown. Together they have five daughters, twelve grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. Their daughters are Jody Lynn Sidwell Sims (Pat), JoAnn Fisher (Boyd), Julie Cluff, JaNae Ravsten (Zane) and Jenifer Pauline Janes (Robert). Paul loved following his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in their school and many sporting activities: gymnastics, soccer, golf, basketball, football, volleyball, drama, dance and choir.

Paul loved music. He played the piano, organ, trumpet, accordion and baritone ukulele. He sang in and directed many choirs and men’s quartets. He sang baritone with the Beehive Statesmen Barbershop Chorus and loved singing bass in the beautiful and meaningful songs in weekly church meetings.

Paul loved sports. He played basketball, volleyball and slow and fast pitch softball. His claim to sports fame came in 1954 at the All-Church Fast Pitch Softball Tournament in Salt Lake City, when while playing second base, he made a triple play to win the game and advance his team in the playoffs. One of Paul’s special joys was coaching each one of his daughters in slow and fast pitch softball. His home office has many trophies and awards his teams won.

Paul attended the University of Utah for two years, and later after his mission, he graduated in accounting from Brigham Young University. He earned his Master of Education degree from BYU and a Teaching Service and Appreciation award from BYU as well.

Paul served his first mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Swiss Austrian Mission. He felt blessed to serve in Vienna, Salzburg and Bern. He also loved visiting many places from which his grandparents came. Following retirement, he and Sylvia served a full-time CES mission in Hawaii and another mission in Salt Lake City over placement, coordination and training of worldwide full-time Senior Welfare Service Missionaries.

After graduating in accounting, Paul served two years as a Treasury Agent in San Francisco, California. He later worked forty-four years in the LDS Church Educational System, serving in institute, teaching and administrative positions, including twenty-six years as Administrator of Finance and Services and as Secretary to the Church Board of Education and Boards of Trustee for all CES entities. Paul also served on the board of Deseret Mutual Association. He always considered it a blessing to have been able to work closely with many General Authorities and First Presidencies of the Church. Paul was fluent in German and had extensive experience in foreign travel, having spent considerable time in forty-one countries. He treasured his association with his CES associates throughout the world. Paul served as a Bishop, High Councilor, Stake Executive Secretary and as a Counselor in three Bishoprics. Paul lived in Centerville, Utah for seventeen years and in Farmington, Utah for thirty-two years.

Paul, his wife and daughters, their husbands and his grandchildren constructed a beautiful family cabin by Henry’s Lake in Island Park, Idaho. It is a treasured place of quiet retreat for the entire family, sometimes for everyone at once and not so quiet. 

Paul’s greatest love and joy was for his dear wife and his wonderful family. He was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter, Jody Lynn Sidwell Sims, his son-in-law, Michael Leland Sidwell and two great-grandchildren, Sage Emily Fisher and Gideon Lyon Fisher.

Funeral services will be at the Farmington South Stake Center 695 South 200 East, Farmington, Utah at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, November 25, 2024. A viewing before the services will be 11:30-12:30 p.m. and also the evening of Sunday, November 24, 2024 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Russon Brother’s Mortuary 1941 North Main Street, Farmington, Utah. Interment will be at the Farmington City Cemetery following the funeral services.

The funeral service will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary Live Facebook page and on this obituary page below, where it will appear 10-15 minutes prior to the start of the service. 

Special thanks to Paul’s hospice providers for such tender care- we love you Caigen and Pross.