Dee Andersen

Dee Floyd Andersen, age 83, died Friday June 27, 2014. He passed away in his Orem, Utah home, surrounded by family.

Born April 9, 1931, in Ogden, Utah, Dee was the first of five children to Floyd C. and Lola Rose Andersen. He was raised in Brigham City, Utah and attended Box Elder High School (class of 1949), where he was a class officer for five of the six years leading up to graduation. Dee always said he attended school with the best of friends and classmates. It was in high school he met Frances Nicholas; they married January 18, 1951, and have enjoyed 63 years together since then.

Dee attended Utah State University (class of 1953), where he majored in accounting. He accepted an Army ROTC commission during the Korean War and served in Texas and London, accompanied by Frances and two young sons. Five more children eventually joined their family.

Once released from the army, Dee began a career in business and accounting, working for firms in Ogden, Vernal, and Idaho Falls. He was controller of the University of Utah and later became administrative vice president at the university under David P. Gardiner.

In 1970, Dee was asked by Pres. Harold B. Lee of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to accept the position of Associate Commissioner of Education for the Church Educational System, working with Commissioner Neal A. Maxwell. The next twenty-four years were the most interesting and rewarding of his professional career. During this time, in addition to serving in the Church's education department, he was also asked to accept numerous assignments working with the First Presidency and Presiding Bishopric. His final assignment at Church Headquarters was as a special assistant to Pres. N. Eldon Tanner and Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley of the First Presidency. Dee finished his career as administrative vice president at Brigham Young University (BYU). In 1994, Dee received the BYU Presidential Citation for Exemplary Service. Over the course of his career, he also served on a number of committees and boards including the American Cancer Society Board and the board of directors for the Polynesian Cultural Center.

A faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Dee served in many callings. He was a stake president, a bishop twice, and a member of the Young Men's General Board. After retiring, Dee and Frances continued to serve, fulfilling assignments as president of the Hawaii Honolulu Mission, as president and matron of the Mt. Timpanogos Temple, and as couple missionaries in the Ohio Cleveland Mission.

Dee was known for his kindness and intelligence. Countless friends, family members, and associates were blessed by his wise council and testimony. Ultimately, Dee's most cherished role was that of husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He is survived by his wife Frances, their children-Allen (Jill), Hong Kong; Scott (Ruthann), Cedar City, UT; Alene (Don) Draper, Chanhassen, MN; Annette Wood, Orem, UT; Carter (Kathy), Myrtle Creek, OR; Charles (Kerri), Rexburg, ID; and Chris (Laura), Sudbury, MA-as well as 29 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, two brothers, Kenneth Andersen and Charles Andersen, and sister Gwen Skiby. He is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Mary Fae Harrop, and great-grandson Landon Christopher Andersen.

The family will receive visitors at Sundberg Olpin Mortuary, 495 South State Orem, Utah, on Monday July 7, 2014 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Funeral services will be held at 11:00am the following day, Tuesday July 8, at the LDS Sharon Park 2nd Ward located at 225 East 200 North, Orem, Utah. Friends may call on the family before the services beginning at 9:30am. Interment will be at 3:30pm in the Brigham City cemetery located at 300 E. 300 S., Brigham City, Utah.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the LDS Perpetual Education Fund. www.ldsphilanthropies.org/pef