Dennis Leo Lythgoe

Dennis Leo Lythgoe, 82, died peacefully from complications of Alzheimer’s disease May 2, 2021, at Sunrise Senior Living, Sandy, Utah. Dennis was born January 23, 1939, in Salt Lake City, the fourth child of Leo Thomas Lythgoe and Lavinia Mitchell. He graduated from Olympus High School and from the University of Utah with bachelors, masters and PhD degrees in history and English. After courting Marti Sorensen for four years, he married her August 27th, 1965, in the Salt Lake Temple, and they became the parents of five children.
Dennis’ career included 20 years as a professor of history and Chair of the History Department at Bridgewater State College in Massachusetts, and 19 years as columnist and then Book Editor at The Deseret News. Concurrently, he was an adjunct professor at Westminster College, the U of U and BYU.
Dennis loved to read, write and talk about politics and Mormon history. He was the author of six books and many articles. He was a daily subscriber to The New York Times. He was a proud Democrat and liberal feminist who was tolerant of all political, religious, and sexual orientations. He loved to sing, and for many years he was a member of the Utah Symphony Chorus. He shared household chores and child rearing equally with his sweetheart of 55 years, and his book A Marriage of Equals was a best seller at Deseret Book. He was adored by his wife, children and grandchildren.
Dennis was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served a mission to New Zealand, nine years as a beloved Bishop in the Hingham and West Bridgewater Massachusetts Wards, and on the Boston Stake High Council. He was also a much-loved and revered teacher and speaker, and a faithful home teacher.
Dennis is survived by his wife, Marti; his five children: Darrin (Andrea), Kelly (Preston) Doty, David (Jenny), Charlie (Dara) and Spencer (Bonnie); his sister Mary Lythgoe (Charles) Bradford; 14 grandchildren, and one great-grandson. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters Beatrice and Gaye Smith, his brother Tom, brother-in-law Charles “Chick” Bradford and niece Lorraine Bradford Kelly.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 8, at 11:00 a.m. in the Wasatch 3rd /Brighton Point Ward chapel, 3455 E. Bengal Blvd. (7800 S.), Cottonwood Heights. Friends may call at Memorial Mountain View Mortuary, 3115 E. 7800 S., Cottonwood Heights, May 7, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., and from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m. before the funeral at the chapel. Masks are not required but are recommended. Interment at Memorial Mountain View Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Church of Jesus Christ Humanitarian Aid Fund.
Streaming Instructions for Funeral Service:
1. Joining by computer
a. Go to zoom.us in any internet browser
b. Click “join meeting”
c. Enter the meeting id – 8019430831
d. A box will open saying “https://zoom.us wants to open this application”. Click “open zoom”
e. Click “Join with Computer Audio”
f. Click “Mute” in the bottom left hand corner so that your audio does not interrupt the funeral services
2. Joining by phone or iPad
a. Download the Zoom app
b. Open the app and select “join a meeting”
c. Enter the meeting id – 8019430831
d. Select “join without video”
e. Select “Call using internet audio”
f. Select “mute” in the bottom left hand corner so that your audio does not interrupt the funeral services.
Service Information
Viewing May 7, 2021 at 6:00PM - 7:30PM
Memorial Mountain View Mortuary





Viewing May 8, 2021 at 10:00AM - 10:30AM
3455 East Bengal Blvd. (7800 South) Cottonwood Heights, UT





Funeral Service
May 8, 2021 at 11:00AM - 12:00PM
3455 East Bengal Blvd. (7800 South) Cottonwood Heights, UT