Elder Sterling W. Sill, age 91, died at his home in Salt Lake City, Utah on May 25, 1994 of causes due to age.
Born March 31, 1903 in Layton, Utah, a son of Joseph Albert and Marietta Welling Sill. Married Doris Thornley on September 4, 1929 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.Attended Layton area schools, Utah State University, and University of Utah. After a brief period of teaching in Layton, he began selling life insurance for the New York Life Insurance Co., where he was made manager in 1933 and promoted to Inspector of Agencies in 1934. He was awarded the Certified Life Underwriter degree, being the first Utahn to earn this degree. He served as President of the Salt Lake Exchange Club in 1938. Elected as President of the Salt Lake Association of Life Underwriters.
Elder Sill served an LDS mission in the Southern States Mission. He was the youngest member to be called to the North Davis Stake High Council. In 1934, he and his companion moved to their present residence, where two years later he was called as bishop of the newly created Garden Park Ward, a building that he was instrumental in construction. He served as bishop for 10 years and then called in 1946 to the Bonneville Stake High Council. In 1951, he became a member of the Deseret Sunday School Union General Board, a position he held until 1954 when he was called as an Assistant to the Council of Twelve Apostles. He was sustained as a member of the 1st Quorum of Seventies in October 1976, received Emeritus status in September 1978 and faithfully remained at the Church offices until 1988, at which time he retired to his home where many volunteers assisted him with his writing. He was a prolific writer, having authored and published 38 volumes along with numerous other manuscripts yet to be published.
He was probably most well known for the 17 years (1960-1977) he performed as the voice for KSL's program, Sunday Evening from Temple Square, where he extended many examples of faith and leadership. He was also awarded the Carnegie Hero Foundation Medal of Honor for saving a 13-year-old boy from drowning in the ocean. Member of the University of Utah Board of Regents for 11 years, serving as Chairman for four years. He received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws degree from the U of U in 1953, and in 1983 was honored as a distinguished alumnus. Through his efforts in obtaining funding, the home economics building was named the "Sterling W. Sill Home Living Center". Another lifelong dream was realized in 1980 when the residents of Layton proclaimed a "Sterling W. Sill Day", naming him honorary mayor of Layton.
Survivors include his widow, Doris T. Sill; son, John Michael and his wife, Diane, Salt Lake City; daughter, Mary Carolyn Knepper and her husband, Don, Mesa, Arizona; 17 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren; sister, Marguerite Bourne, Farmington, Utah; brother, Claude W. Sill, Idaho Falls, Idaho; sister-in-law, Alice T. Evans, widow to the late Elder Richard L. Evans. A son, David Sterling Sill, preceded his father in death in July of 1993, leaving a wife and five children.
Funeral services Tuesday, May 31st, at 12 noon, Bonneville Stake Center, 1535 East Bonneview Drive (1050 South). Friends and family may call at the Larkin Mortuary, 260 East South Temple, Monday evening 6 to 8 p.m., and at the Stake Center on Tuesday, 10 - 11:45 a.m. Interment will be in the Kaysville Cemetery.
"He was an exceptional man, a true leader of men, and his family and friends will always remember his outstanding accomplishments and, will miss him dearly."
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