Mark Mendenhall

Mark Lee Mendenhall was born on June 27, 1955, to Rulon John and Melba Dalton Mendenhall in St. George, Utah. Mark passed away unexpectedly at his home in Cedar City, Utah on February 26, 2026 at the age of 70.

Mark was the fourth of five children. He was never married. He was a longtime resident of Hurricane, Utah and Cedar City, Utah. He graduated from Hurricane High School in 1973. He studied education at Southern Utah State College (SUSC), now known as Southern Utah University (SUU) in Cedar City, Utah with a Bachelor's Degree.

He served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Canada Calgary Mission (Spanish) from 1974-1976.

Mark served on active duty in the United States Army from May 1984 to May 1988 in the MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) 98G (now 35P) Electronic Warfare/Signal Intelligence Voice Interceptor, responsible for detecting, translating, and analyzing foreign radio communications. He held a Top-Secret security clearance and studied Russian at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California. He was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, E-5 before separating with an honorable discharge.

After his military service, Mark's employment ranged from teaching high school and driving taxi in northern Texas, to various courier and delivery driving occupations in southern Utah.

Mark loved to sing and play the guitar, creating his own songs with lyrics and music. He especially loved to play games with his family members, including many well-loved cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was also a gifted linguist, in a moment moving effortlessly between English, Spanish, and Russian.

In his immediate family, Mark was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law, Jay Alan Henderson. He is survived by two brothers and two sisters, Ronald Rulon (Phyllis Clove) Mendenhall, Cherri (Tony) Wittwer, Leonard Jon (Karen Beardall) Mendenhall, and Melody (Jay Alan) Henderson.

There will be a Graveside Service for Mark on Friday, March 20, 2026 at 11:00am, for close family and friends, at the Southern Utah National Cemetery, 2181 West 1600 South, Cedar City, Utah. Services are under the direction of Southern Utah Mortuary.

A Memorial Gathering will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 11:00am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4th Ward Chapel at 500 West 400 North, Cedar City, Utah. To watch Marks' Memorial Gathering, please visit https://zoom.us/j/99211544572?pwd=REUrS3d4S1ZmZ3I2VGNDSFJNSUsxZz09

Meeting ID: 992 1154 4572; Passcode: church

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