Frederick Michael Lund

Frederick Michael Lund (Mike), 82, of Lehi, Utah—husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather—loved to tell a good story. While we are deeply saddened by his passing, we can imagine him in heaven, surrounded by loved ones, waving his hands in the air telling the dramatic tale of his last days on earth. Amidst the chaos of cancer, his wife, Maria, had a traumatic fall, brain injury, and surgery and the Coronavirus Pandemic ensued with all of the cancellations, travel bans, and panic that followed. Through all of this, Mike slipped peacefully from this realm to his heavenly home on March 16, 2020.

Mike was born to Wilbur P. and Pearl Virginia (Evershed) Lund on December 26, 1937, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He is the first of six children. Graduated from South High in Salt Lake City and received two bachelor’s degrees from the U of U, Naval Science and Accounting. He married his high school sweetheart, Maria Hilda Hekking on June 9, 1960. Mike and Maria, the M&M’s, were the proud parents of ten children.

He is survived by his wife, Maria Lund and their ten children—Lorin & Camille Lund (Maryland), Maria & Dennis Ellis (Utah), Kevin & Margaret Lund (Utah), La Nae & Scott Tanner (Minnesota), Leslie & Paul Kay (Illinois), Randy & Marina Lund (Texas), Robb & Ginny Lund (Pennsylvania), Marlon & Kara Lund (New Mexico), Matt & Crystal Lund (Utah), and Kristiena & Ryan Yorgason (Utah); 40 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and five siblings—Linda & Joe Peterson (Nevada), Leslie & Terry Dimick (Florida), Steve & Linda Lund (Utah), Kirk & Barbara Lund (Washington), and David & Uvonne Lund (Arizona).

Mike was a proud veteran who served in the United States Navy as a pilot from 1960–1970. He fondly referred to his Naval service and loved sharing stories of flying. Post-service, he worked as an accountant for many years before becoming a dedicated postal worker of 20 years. He was affectionately referred to as “Freddie the mailman.” He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he served in many callings, including being a temple worker and his favorite, high counselor to a YSA ward. As he loved to say, his greatest achievement was having all of his ten children and grandchildren married in the temple and that each of his sons served full-time missions.

Above all else, Mike adored his wife, Maria. She was his one and only true love. He constantly thought about her, and everything he did was to serve her and make her happy. She truly is the other half to his M&M. He was happiest when surrounded by family, and his legacy speaks to that. Through example, he taught his children to work hard, love hard, and play hard. He was fond of saying, “Be good. If you can’t be good, be careful. And if you can’t be careful, have fun.”

Due to dementia, he spent his last two years staying with his son, Matt. He dearly missed being home with his wife, but the love of Matt and Crystal’s family, as well as their dog, Penny, brought him great comfort. In his last days, Mike suffered from esophageal cancer, which stripped him, layer by layer, of everything but his innate goodness and gentleness. The confusions of life were lifted, and he was able to live his last few months with a new peace—an unlikely and beautiful blessing

A private family graveside service will be held to honor and lay him to rest. Condolences may be shared through Wasatch Lawn Memorial.