Lewis Tempest Ellsworth, born November 9, 1905, in Payson, Utah, to Mary Tempest Ellsworth and Lewis Norman Ellsworth, died Monday, March 9, 1998, at Saint Joseph Villa at the age of 92.
Lew attended Payson High School, and Brigham Young University. In 1926, he started his first job "in the traders cage" at J.A. Hogle and Company, a Salt Lake City Brokerage Firm.As a young man, he fulfilled an Eastern States Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and upon his return worked for a brief time as an accountant for Wells, Baxter and Miller. Later he worked for Sunset Lawn Mausoleum, doing everything from accounting to hand digging graves.
In 1936, Lew and A.W. Conover met and the two decided to start their own insurance company in a one room office with one shared rented desk and a borrowed $100. They formed commercial Travelers Insurance Company. In 1949, the name was changed to Surety Life Insurance Company. Lew first served as the V.P.-Secretary and later became President and Chairman of the Board of Directors. In 1976, Surety was sold to the Dean Witter Company, which later became part of the Sears Group of Companies. Lew served on the Executive Committee of the American Life Convention, Washington D.C. and was granted the John Ivan Johnson Memorial Award for the State of Utah.
Lew was a founding member of the Utah National Guard's Honorary Colonel Corps. He was later appointed by Governor Rampton as the First Brigadier General and Corps Commander. He continued to support and serve the Utah Guard through its Freedom Foundation and was honored with the Commanders Award for Public Service by the Department of the Army. In addition, Lew served on the Board of Directors of The Salt Lake Country Club, and he was president of the Utah Seniors Golf Association of which he was a founding member.
Lew was a great lover of the outdoors, an avid golfer and fisherman. He was a caring and loving husband to his wife, Laureta, a wonderful, supportive father, a kind and generous grandfather, and an extremely loyal friend.
He is preceded in death by his grandsons, John Ellsworth Rapp and Matthew Alexander Ellsworth; one brother and three sisters. He is survived by his wife, Laureta Snarr Ellsworth; daughter, Joyce Ellsworth (John) Rapp; sons, Lewis James (Penny) Ellsworth, Lynn Snarr (Kay) Ellsworth, and Steven Kay (Gale) Ellsworth; 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Lew's family expresses their sincere appreciation to the sisters of Saint Joseph Villa and their caring staff.
Funeral Services will be held Thursday, March 12, 1998, 1 p.m. at the Monument Park 2nd Ward, 1005 S. 2000 E., Salt Lake City, Utah. A visitation will be held Wednesday March 11, 1998 from 6-8 p.m. at Larkin Sunset Lawn, 2350 East 1300 South, Salt Lake City, Utah and from 11:30 to 12:45 prior to the services at the ward. Entombment, Larkin Sunset Lawn Mausoleum directly following the service.
Contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.
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