Sheldon McConkie

1934 - 2024

Sheldon Wayne McConkie

1934~2024

Bountiful, Utah - Sheldon Wayne McConkie passed away March 1, 2024, in his home in Bountiful, Utah. He was born in Moab, Utah on August 8, 1934, to Alta Violet and Wayne Russell McConkie.

Sheldon grew up in Moab and Saint George where he loved hunting, exploring the outdoors, and playing tennis. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Helsinki Finland Mission from December 1954-June 1957. While serving in Finland, he met Sirpa Annikki Lindqvist. Though the details of their postal-service courtship are unclear, we do know he gladly volunteered to pick her up at the Salt Lake City Airport in the spring of 1959 and several months later they were married on July 22nd in the Saint George Temple. He loved Sirpa more than anything, and our faith gives us hope he can once again adore his "Kultu."

Sheldon graduated from Dixie High School in 1952 where he was elected senior class president; he then earned an associate degree from Dixie College in 1954. He continued his education at The University of Utah, earning his Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering in 1960, then returned to the "U" to earn a Master of Science in engineering in 1973.

He was the first licensed civil engineer to work for the Utah Department of Transportation where he was employed for over 30 years as Planning Engineer, Project Design Engineer, Location and Environmental Engineer, Chief Roadway Design Engineer, Preconstruction Engineer, District Director, and Operations Engineer.

Sheldon loved to play tennis; he frequented the city courts in Bountiful and loved nothing more than stunning an unsuspecting teenager with his signature thunderbolt serve. His tennis service was bold, but his daily service was quiet. He served faithfully in his church callings serving in two bishoprics and a branch presidency. He loved singing and led the music in Sacrament Meeting for decades, always demonstrating that the message of The Restoration ought to be sung with gusto. He lived a life of Christian love through his daily acts of practical service for family and neighbors. His family was alarmed when they found out 84-year-old Sheldon had been spending days on a two-story home with his shingle hammer helping install a roof for his neighbor. Even in the advanced stages of dementia one of the things he always asked was, "Is there anything I can do for you?"

Sheldon and Sirpa have three children: Wayne L (Cindy) McConkie, Joel William (Trina) McConkie, Christina (Mitchell deceased) Thornley; nine grandchildren: Audrey (Noel) Merket, Hope (Joseph) Walker, Richmond (Korri) Thornley, Spencer (Sarah) McConkie, Brianna (Jameson) Izatt, Mitchell (Odyssey) McConkie, Russell McConkie, Joshua McConkie, Amanda McConkie; and nine great grandchildren. He loved his family quietly and deeply.

Special thanks to Sheldon's grandson Russell McConkie who became his grandfather's caretaker, chauffeur, and friend.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 8, at the Bountiful 21st Ward Chapel, 115 E Wicker Lane (1900 S. and Orchard Drive) Bountiful, Utah. Family and friends are invited to a viewing Thursday, March 7, from 6-8 p.m. at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 295 N Main Street in Bountiful, and Friday morning one hour prior to funeral services at the church. Interment will be at Lake View Memorial Cemetery following the funeral. Condolences can be shared with the family at www.russonmortuary.com.