Dean W Morgan

Dean W. Morgan, age 93, died October 20, 2023, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Known for his steadfastness, generosity and strength, Dean will be dearly missed and will remain in his family’s hearts forever.

Dean was born June 4, 1930, in Downey, Idaho, to Lynn and Karma Morgan.

He grew up in Pocatello, Idaho, whereas a young lad he got into mischief with neighborhood boys who called themselves the “South Street Gang.” Six of these lifelong friends were still meeting monthly for lunch just a few years ago. The Idaho State Journal featured their boyhood adventures in an article published Aug. 9, 2018.

Dean was a radar specialist in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War.  A highly skilled electrical engineer, he was part of the team that developed the memory system for the Mars Mariner 4, which launched in November 1964, encountering Mars in July 1965. At the end of his career as an engineer, he worked on the team that designed the radar system for the F-16’s used in the Gulf war.  He was also a master craftsman who built beautiful furniture and other woodworking projects.  In the late ‘70s to early ‘80s, he built homes with his brother, Leon, in Boise, Idaho. He was an energetic, active man who kept fit through running when he was younger and through golf in his later years. At age 87, he even hiked the trails at Zions National Park with his daughter Lisa and great-granddaughter Hannah!

Dean married Margaret Stefanski in 1953 and they had five children. They later divorced. He married Rita Callely in 1984.

Dean is survived by his five children: Tim (Julie) Morgan, Salt Lake City; Lisa (Larry) Osborne, Kansas City, Missouri; Larry Morgan, Salt Lake City; Jeff Morgan, Salt Lake City; and Mike Morgan, Salt Lake City, as well as 14 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews and his sister-in-law, Lei Lani Morgan.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his ex-wife Margaret Morgan, his wife Rita Morgan, his sister Jean (Tom) Wheatley, his sister Beverly (Roger) Smith, his brother Leon Morgan and his granddaughter Heather Osborne.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Alzheimer’s Association are greatly appreciated by Dean’s family. 

A celebration of life service will be held on Nov. 3, 2023, at 1 p.m. at Memorial Holladay Cottonwood Mortuary located at 4670 S Highland Dr in Holladay UT 84117, followed immediately by interment at Holladay Memorial Cemetery located at 4900 S Memory Lane in Holladay UT 84117.