Cover photo for Russell Kesterson's Obituary
1939 Russell 2022

Russell Kesterson

June 9, 1939 — February 4, 2022

Russell Raleigh Kesterson, 82, of Orem, Utah, passed Feb 5, 2022 at Utah Valley Hospital in Provo. Russ was born June 9, 1939 in Phoenix, AZ, to Raleigh Russell Kesterson and Theresa Ann Kesterson, of Scottsdale.



A true Arizona Native, Russ graduated from Phoenix North High School in 1957, and then attended Phoenix College. Russ married Pamela, his high school sweetheart, in the Mesa Arizona Temple on June 26, 1959, then entered Arizona State University and earned a degree in Accounting. After qualifying to became a CPA, joined Price Waterhouse, staying until 1976, when he opened his own practice.



Once on his own, Russ used his skills to start or steer several businesses, providing jobs, and in some cases careers, to many. The project in which he was most involved and for which he had the most passion was Insight Learning, which provides a means for people to understand their own personality styles and recognize the personality styles of others, preparing the way for more effective and harmonious relationships.



Those who knew Russ as friend or family, will remember him as an accomplished woodworker. He built an addition to his Phoenix house, helped to assemble the family cabin at Greer, and performed home improvements wherever he lived. Russ was also a photographer, and in his own darkroom, printed many of the cherished portraits that adorn family walls. He was even, for a time, a beekeeper.



As a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Russ served tirelessly. A powerful speaker and a gifted administrator, Russ was the Stake Clerk through four Stake Presidencies, and was called to be a Bishop from 1983 to 1989. He also followed in the footsteps of his mother and father, and for years was a Temple Worker in Mesa.



Russ was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Mary Ann Rogers, his son, Mark Russell Kesterson (1986), and his daughter, Kathy Lynn Lehtinen (2021).



Relatives remaining to celebrate and cherish his memory include his wife, Pamela Jean Kesterson, his daughter, Kristi Lynn Schmidt, sons-in-law Steve Schmidt and Richard Lehtinen, and six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.



A memorial service will be held in Mesa, Arizona, at 11:00 am, on Saturday, April 30, at the Menlo Park Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2618 N Lindsay Rd. An on-line feed will be provided for those who cannot attend in person at:



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To leave condolences for Russell, visit www.legacyfunerals.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Russell Kesterson, please visit our flower store.

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