Steven Lollin Orton

Steven Lollin Orton

1940 ~ 2017

Steven Lollin Orton of Centerville, UT, age 77, passed away on September 4, 2017 due to complications from surgery. He was surrounded by the people he loved the most, his wife and children.

Steve was born June 6,1940 in Cedar City, UT to Lollin D Orton and Marguerite Sundberg Orton. Growing up in Parowan, UT, he graduated valedictorian from Parowan High School in 1958. He met his sweetheart, Elva Rosenlof, while working at Bryce Canyon National Park. She waited for him as he served an LDS mission to Australia from July 1960 to July 1962. Shortly after his return, they were sealed in the Manti Temple on September 22,1962. Steve graduated from Brigham Young University in August 1964 and later earned a Master's Degree at St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas. A Commissioned Officer in the United States Air Force, he served 20 years active duty, including two tours in Thailand during the Vietnam War. He served another 22 years in civil service as an analyst for the U.S. Military. During it all, Steve and Elva lived in 16 homes around the world and raised seven children.

A devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served in many callings, including bishop of both the San Antonio Third Ward in Texas and the Goldsboro Ward in North Carolina. Steve and Elva enjoyed their time as temple workers as well as serving four missions together. He loved to study the gospel; his favorite callings were where he could teach others.

Steve was a lover of all learning, filling his mind with knowledge that he shared through teaching at institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Xi'an International Studies University in China. He also enjoyed working with his hands; he always had a woodworking or repair project in his shop.

Steve was a loving husband and an exemplary father. He is survived by his wife, Elva, of Centerville, UT; son, Brent, and his fiancee, Tara Stanford, of Delray Beach, FL; daughter, Stephanie, and her husband, Andrew Lynch, of Alexandria, VA; daughter, Suzy, and her husband, Dan Taylor, of San Diego, CA; son, Matthew, and his wife, Melissa, of Layton, UT; son, Mark Austin, and his wife, Emily, of Lehi, UT; son, Jared, of Yuma, AZ; daughter, Donna, and her husband, Drew Rosberg, of Leesburg, VA; and 17 wonderful grandchildren.

Viewing will be held on Wednesday, September 6, 2017 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Russon Brothers Mortuary located at 295 North Main Street, Bountiful, UT. Funeral services will be held Thursday, September 7, 2017 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Porter Lane 1st LDS Ward located at 435 West 400 South, Centerville, UT. Friends and family are invited to gather between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. to pay their respects.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the LDS Church's Perpetual Education Fund at give.lds.org/pef.