Jeffery Greenwell

Jeffery Greenwell lived his life exceeding expectations and avoiding doctor appointments. He spent his last days on the farm in Milburn leaving us behind on August 17, 2025.

He was born to Galen and Barbara Ricketts on a military base in Tacoma, Washington on July 23, 1956. He spent the majority of his childhood with his grandparents, Homer and Mary Dyson Greenwell, in Hooper, Utah. His free-range childhood included playing in the slough, roaming the bird refuges, hauling hay, and trapping fur. The feral nature of his childhood likely contributed to his stellar immune system and resiliency. He was an Eagle Scout and spent a summer on staff at Camp Loll in Wyoming working as a merit badge counselor. He earned enough money from trapping to buy his first brand new truck while still in high school and the stories he tells of his high school buddies, their mischief and mayhem, are both heartwarming and harmless (though he may have been voted least likely to become a cop by his classmates.) It was the era of driving muscle cars and he owned a few. He earned extra money to keep the cars running hunting coyotes for Deseret Land and Livestock. Friday nights included cruising Washington Boulevard, Brigham City, and Stinky Springs, sometimes till sunrise. After graduating from Roy High School he spent the rest of his life learning and working. His first job was a work release program at Hill Air Force Base where he received multiple awards for outstanding service. Employers included Gold Cross Ambulance, University of Utah Hospital Emergency Department, AirMed, Young Electric Sign Company, Signetics, Orem City, Mt.

Pleasant City, and Sanpete County Sheriff’s Office. (He tried on retirement for about 4 months but it didn’t fit.) A good portion of his law enforcement career was spent keeping kids safe and putting people in jail. His favorite partner for five years was a 100-pound german shepherd named Tritan. If he was responding to an incident that included a teen, he always asked the kid, “Do you want to get your folks on the phone, or should I call them?” Later he treasured his role as probation officer, helping people stay out of jail, offering support, and teaching them to find satisfaction in their own lives.He successfully reduced recidivism with his no-bullshit attitude and a heart full of compassion. With the support of the county attorney’s office and a few stellar judges, he built a probation and pretrial program other counties clamored to follow.

Jeff enjoyed the years he spent riding Harleys with his public service buddies and all the wives. There were no white socks and tennis shoes in this bunch, and the camaraderie, loyalty, and leathers lasted a lifetime. Those bikers looked rough traveling together through small towns with fathers hollering at their daughters to get inside and lock the door. Laughable since they were a bunch of cops, highway patrol, firemen, and paramedics—definitely heroes in disguise.

His favorite holiday was any bird hunting season. The opening day of duck season was full of rituals and memories and usually ended with a bruised and swollen jaw. He would hunt big game to placate his wife, fill the freezer, and spend time with the family. He taught his kids how to fish, hunt, respect wildlife, and treasure time spent outdoors. He kept the old boats, trucks, tractors, backhoe, bulldozer, snowmobiles and ATV’s running smoothly. He could fix anything that broke and could weld like an artist. He was dedicated to balancing the priorities of the farm between grazing and crop production and maintaining a healthy habitat for wildlife. The last crop of hay he stubbornly completed with a fractured spine, too busy and stubborn to see a doctor.

As far as marriages went, the third time was a charm and the only one that mattered as it lasted 41 years and 334 days. “My wife, lover, best friend, hunting companion, and travel planner will miss me most of all. Kids, you need to keep mom happy, I did.”

Jeff will live on in the memories of his wife, LuAnn Hamilton Greenwell, His children, Bradley Maurice Greenwell (Margot Anne Wolfer), Monica Lynn Greenwell, and Anthony Greenwell (Melissa Ruth Hansen). His grandchildren, Finley June, Christina Grace, Clara Ann, and Jeffery Cole Greenwell. His siblings, Carla Malmstrom, Lisa Darger, Teresa Ricketts and Greg Ricketts, He will be dearly missed by his favorite mother-in-law LuDene Hamilton, his friends, extended family, his devoted law enforcement community and coworkers.

He was predeceased by his grandparents, parents, brother Rodney Ricketts, and his favorite father-in-law and occasional co-conspirator, Wm Maurice Hamilton. If there’s glory on the other side, he will be greeted by a herd of hunting dogs delighted to see him again and a cold beer at the end of the day.

Jeff said to tell you he is grateful for all who travelled this road with him. He’s sorry he had to check out early. “Love is bigger than all of us and the end is not the end at all. See you on the other side, if I make it. “

A celebration of Jeff’s life will be held Monday, August 25, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. in the Fairview Dance Hall with a visitation from 9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Services will conclude at the Fairview City Cemetery with Honors from the Sanpete Sheriff’s Department and a Last Call.

In lieu of flowers, please write a favorite memory or share a photo of Jeff for the family to treasure forever. Mail can be sent to PO Box 651 Fairview UT 84629. 

To Watch Services Live, Click Here. The Live Zoom Link will Activate at 10:45 a.m. MST prior to services.