Leonard Defa

After a long fight from the effects of Covid-19, Leonard “Glen” Defa, passed away with his family by his side on Saturday, November 20, 2021 in Provo, Utah. Glen was born and raised in Evanston, Wyoming on December 6, 1958 to Johnnie Defa and Betty Ann Sheets Defa. He graduated from Evanston High School and started his working career at Evanston Motors at the young age of 13 to get out of his mother’s hair. He was the Master Technician and later became the Service Manager and was known along the Wasatch Front for his mechanical skills. He worked there for 29 years and then became a salesman at Napa Auto Parts for 7 years. He took an early retirement to care for his parents before their deaths. Margaret Ann Defa was born through Glen’s first marriage to Ellen Davis; they later divorced. He married his eternal sweetheart, Katheran “Kathy” Peterson Defa on December 26, 1981. They were sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple on August 11, 1989. Kathy brought to the marriage with her a daughter, Kimberly, who Glen adopted as his own. Together they had Johnnie “Paul” Defa.

Glen was a lover of the outdoors. He took his family camping on the weekends and fell in love with the mountains. Over the last two winters, he and Kathy gained a love for the desert as well, while riding their side-by-side with their friends in Overton, Nevada. He has had a talent for photography for many years and has taken many, many photos of wildlife and his family. He and Kathy have traveled great distances to watch their grandkids perform and compete because they love spending time with them and seeing them do what they love to do. At the age of 13 he became an Eagle Scout. As an adult, he served in the community by being a part of the Citizen Patrol and the Hungry Backpack program and was a volunteer for the fire department. Glen served in many callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He had a great desire in doing family history while he became a volunteer at the Family History Center.

Glen was survived by his wife Kathy, daughters Kim (Bucky), Annie (Collin), son Paul (Becky), son-in-law Brad, 9 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, and sisters Liz, Johna (Craig). He was preceded in death by his parents Johnnie and Betty Defa, baby boy Defa, brother-in-law Rick Crompton, in-laws Howard and Beverly Peterson.

A viewing will be held Sunday, November 28 6:00-8:00pm and Monday, November 29 9:30-10:45am before the funeral at 11:00am at the Elm Street Church. It is located at 251 Elm Street, Evanston, Wyoming. Interment to follow at the Evanston City Cemetery.

We want to thank the medical staff at the University of Utah Hospital, the Utah Valley Specialty Hospital in Provo, and the Intermountain Utah Valley Hospital for their hard work and service while Glen was in their care.