Gale Anderson

On the morning of Monday, October 18, 2021 Gale Ray Anderson passed away in his sleep at the age of 81. Gale was loved by everyone that knew him. Those who were fortunate enough to spend time with him, would tell you that he lit up the room with his smile, he was a gifted storyteller, and he loved to make those around him laugh.He would always laugh with you which was a blessing in and of itself, as he had a terrific and memorable laugh. His laugh would brighten your day whether you were a family member, a friend, or a complete stranger. His laugh and his wonderful sense of humor is something that everyone will always remember about Gale.He was a beloved Father, brother, and friend to so many and all of those he left behind will miss him terribly.

Gale was born in Ely, Nevada on June 3, 1940 to Grant and Rachel Anderson. Gale was the second of three children, he had two siblings whom he loved dearly in his older brother Gary and their younger sister Linda. Gale spent his childhood growing up in Milford, Utah where his Father worked for the Union Pacific Railroad. Gale was an exceptional athlete and excelled in Football, Basketball, and Track & Field. He set the Utah State 1A record for throwing the shot put 54’ 1 ¾” in 1958. That throw remained a State record for 13 years and remains as a region record to this day. Gale was a high school star athlete that was known throughout Southern Utah for his prowess on the football field and basketball court. After high school he was awarded a full ride scholarship to play football at Brigham Young University, which coming from a small town such as Milford was an extremely rare accomplishment. It was while attending BYU that Gale met and later married Gwen Newton in 1962 in the Los Angeles, California LDS Temple.

After graduating from BYU with a B.A. degree in Physical Education, Gale continued to be involved with athletics as he was a teacher,head Football coach,and Assistant Basketball coach. He loved coaching and always regretted leaving the profession as he felt that was where he was at his best. Gale also continued to participate in athletics after college, frequently participating in church basketball, handball, and golf. He learned to love the game of golf and became an excellent player.Playing golf with his friends became his favorite pastime, and later he would teach all of his sons to play and spent a lot of time on the golf course with them as well.

Throughout his life he wore many professional hats as a manager, sales professional,business owner, and spent 9 years as the Athletic Director of Development at Utah State University in Logan, Utah. This position in the Athletic Department was tailor made for someone as kind, gregarious, and charismatic as Gale. His natural gifts made him uniquely qualified to fulfill his responsibilities of developing friendships and maintaining meaningful relationships with donors to raise funds in support of Utah State Athletics.

Gale and Gwen had three sons; Keoni, Kyle, and Grant. Gale’s sons would all tell you that he was the best Dad that anyone could ever hope for. He had a way of making his boys feel loved in a way that continues to be unmatched in their lives. He was so proud of all three of his boys and it was nearly impossible to spend any amount of time around Gale without hearing about the accomplishments of one or all three of his sons. He was also a proud grandfather of his grandchildren Maile and Logan and he loved them so very much.

Gale was an avid reader, he loved studying the history of the United States and was a proud American Patriot. He also dedicated much of his life to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was always striving to be a faithful and active member of the church. He grew very close to his savior and loved to study the gospel. Gale certainly had the gift of gab, and in addition to his wonderfully hilarious jokes and stories, he was never afraid to tell others about the things which were important to him. His love for God and our Country were always being shared with those around him.

Gale will be forever missed for his loving nature, his sense of humor, his wonderful smile and unforgettable laugh. Gale is survived by his former spouse Gwen, his sons Keoni and Grant, their wives Marcela and Chelsea,his granddaughter Maile, her husband Steven, and his grandson Logan. Gale is preceded in death by his parents Grant and Rachel, his brother Gary, and his son Kyle.

Funeral Services will be held on Monday, October 25, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at the Silver Lake Ward LDS chapel located at 2755 W. Old Hwy Road, Mountain Green, Utah 84050.  A visitation will be held Monday morning from 10 to 10:45 at the church prior to services. Interment will take place on Tuesday, October 26, at 2:00 p.m. at the Orem Cemetery (1520 N. 800 E. Orem, Utah) where he will be laid to rest next to his beloved son Kyle.