On Tuesday, January 27th, Allen Ray Lingenfelter, our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather passed away. He was eighty-nine. Allen was born to Ray and Esther Lingenfelter in Winona, Minnesota on December 19th, 1936. He graduated from Winona Senior High School where he played football and was captain of the swimming team. He would go on to the University of Minnesota where he earned a degree in electrical engineering. Later in life he would also earn a degree in physics from the University of Utah.
While attending classes at the University of Minnesota he met and fell in love with Sharon Gleason. The two were married on September 16th, 1961. Shortly thereafter, they would move to Seattle, Washington, where Allen was employed by Boeing as an electrical engineer. Sharon would give birth to a daughter, Elizabeth, and a son, Matthew. The family would continue to follow Allen’s career and move to several different states including Alabama, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, and North Dakota. Eventually they would settle in Bountiful, Utah.
Allen was an avid outdoorsman and sportsman. He loved hunting, fishing, and camping with his family and friends. Many weekends would find him boating on one of Utah’s many lakes and reservoirs. A trip to Bear Lake with a large group of friends was an annual family tradition for the 4th and the 24th of July. Hunting season would find him in the backcountry stalking deer or upland birds. Occasionally he would take longer trips to Montana for elk hunting. Later in life he would take up golf when long hikes through the woods and mountains had become a little harder.
More than anything else, Allen was a self-made man. His parents and family in Minnesota were simple farm people with only the most basic education. He was the first in his family to go to college and became an electrical engineer. Once, when asked why he chose that vocation his answer was that he thought it was the toughest thing available to him that he could handle. Later he would earn a master’s degree in physics.
Allen spent his career working defense contracts for employers like Boeing and GTE Sylvania. His work involved keeping America’s military strong and well equipped. He worked on many Air Force bases throughout his career, finishing with Hill Air Force Base in northern Utah. While working at Hill, he was involved in an industrial accident in which an experimental battery exploded, resulting in him suffering serious injuries to his leg. There was a long recovery, but he would eventually return to work just as strong as ever.
Allen is survived by his children, Elizabeth and Matthew, three grandchildren, and a great grandchild. He is preceded in death by his wife, Sharon, and his parents.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, February 16th, 2026, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East. Guests are encouraged to use the parking and entrance on the north side of the building. Allen will be laid to rest at Mt. Calvary next to Sharon on Tuesday, February 17th, at 11:00 am.
