Doctor Leonard T Greenland, 90, moved on to his next adventure on 4 March 2024. He is survived by Linda, his wife of 65 years, and eight daughters and their families, including 25 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. His is also survived by a younger brother Charles. He was predeceased by his son, Mark Alexander, and four grandchildren.
Leonard’s earthly adventure began on 13 December 1933 in Highland, Utah, where he was born and grew up. He graduated from American Fork High School in 1952 with a 3.71 GPA. He learned that at least some of his fellow students referred to him as “the retarded kid from Highland.” Three days after graduating from high school he was on his way to United States Air Force Basic Training in California. His original plan was to be an office worker, but he was recruited into the Air Force’s Security Service doing intelligence work. During his 20 years serving in the USAF, he learned to read, write, and speak Chinese Mandarin, using his skills during the Vietnam War.
Leonard needed a companion for his adventures. He married Linda Park on 27 June 1958 just before his assignment to Japan. They are the parents of Rebecca Mikkelsen, Kathleen Strausser, Carol Newey, Rachel Levee, Deborah Bishop, Amy Fitzpatrick, Mark Greenland, Laura Haskell, and Joleen Greenland.
After retiring from the USAF, Leonard began a new adventure. He was inspired by high school teachers to go into teaching, so he earned a teaching certificate from Brigham Young University in 1975. He taught at Emery County High School, Castle Dale, Utah, for six years before deciding to further his education at Utah State University, Logan, Utah. He was awarded an EdD in 1985 when he was 51 years of age. He continued to educate students at Papua New Guinea University of Technology, in Lae, Papua New Guinea, where he taught computing and technology for 14 years.
At age 13 Leonard received a Patriarchal Blessing which hinted at future adventures, as he was told he would teach the gospel at home and overseas. He and Linda served three missions: one in Kiribati, Papua New Guinea/Australia, and Alabama. While living abroad, he served as a Branch President five times. He also served several years as an ordinance worker in the Logan, Utah, temple.
For 32 years Leonard lived and worked in 10 countries: England, Japan, Okinawa, Taiwan, Philippines, Korea, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Australia, and China. He also visited all 50 states and 5 continents. Later in life, Leonard took up counted cross-stitch as a hobby, chronicling some of his adventures and lives of his posterity in cross-stitch, winning numerous blue ribbons at the Cache County and Utah State Fairs along the way.
Services for Leonard include a viewing that will be held the morning of Saturday, March 9, 2024 prior to the funeral service from 8:30-9:30 am at the Providence 3rd Ward Chapel located at 355 Canyon Road, Providence, Utah 84332.
The funeral service will be held at the same location following the viewing at 10:00am.
He will be buried later that day at the Taylorsville City Cemetery.
Memories and condolences may be shared and expressed at www.allenmortuaries.com