Dennis Tripp Sampson

Dennis Tripp Sampson was born on February 22, 1942, in Delta, Utah, the son of Duane Sampson and Phyllis Tripp Sampson. He graduated from Olympus High School in Salt Lake City in 1960. After an enlistment in the National Guard, he served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Scotland, from 1963 to 1965—and he bragged about his mission for the rest of his life. After his mission, he attended Dixie College in St. George, Utah, where he met Carolyn Thail Dastrup. Dennis and Carolyn were married in the Salt Lake Temple on September 16, 1966. Dennis earned a Bachelor’s degree in history and political science from the College of Southern Utah in 1969. He earned a Master’s degree in education from Brigham Young University in 1974. He taught seminary and institute for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for nine years in Beaver and Cedar City, Utah, and in Kalispell, Montana. Later, he owned insulation franchises in Fort Collins, Colorado, and Tacoma, Washington. In 1990, Dennis and Carolyn moved their family to American Fork, Utah, where Dennis worked primarily as a salesman. He spent his later years golfing as much as possible with his sons, grandsons, and several “golf buddies” that he accumulated over the years.

Dennis was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Among the many callings he held, he served as a stake president, bishop (twice), bishopric counselor (twice), counselor in a Missionary Training Center branch presidency, Sunday School teacher, and stake missionary. He was the best home teacher in the history of the Church, and he showed by example to his family what it is to be a Priesthood Man. Dennis and Carolyn served for six years, from 2003 to 2009, as hosts at the Conference Center on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, giving tours, discussing the Church with visitors, and making many great friends. From 2014 to 2016, Dennis and Carolyn served a fulltime mission in the Washington D.C. South Mission, where, among other things, they introduced newly baptized Church members to genealogy to help them prepare to participate in temple ordinances for the first time.

He was an extraordinary missionary, friend, son, brother, husband, father, and grandfather. He touched countless lives with his good humor, easy demeanor, and Church service. He was an amazingly talented public speaker and writer, and he peppered friends and family alike with copies of his Church talks, journal entries, and letters. He documented his life in alternately hilarious and poignant autobiographies and short stories. His family will cherish his voluminous writings for generations to come. As his health declined over the last few months of his life, he took to YouTube with the help of his grandson, Payton Sampson, to share funny stories about his life and to testify of Jesus Christ. The videos, which will have you laughing and crying at the same time, can be viewed at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPEJ5q8EU2FWIaOz-4rzPMQ/videos.

Dennis passed away peacefully surrounded by family on February 26, 2022, following a two-year battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Carolyn Dastrup Sampson; his children Kyle (Noelle), Shannon Neal (Michael), Curtis (Gretel), Rachelle Neal (David), Nathan (Aryn), Daniel (BillieJo), Paul (Lindsay), and Jaclyn Browne (Doug); 30 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and his younger brother Blair (Debbie). He was predeceased by his parents Duane and Phyllis Sampson, his parents-in-law Ross and Thail Dastrup, his younger sister VeLynne Iverson (Warren), and his granddaughter Joy Browne (daughter of Jaclyn and Doug).

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 7, 2022, at the American Fork 25th Ward chapel, 320 North 100 East, American Fork, Utah 84003. A viewing will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 6, at the Warenski Funeral Home, 1776 North 900 East, American Fork, Utah, and on Monday, March 7, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment will be at the American Fork City Cemetery.

For those wishing to attend the services virtually, please use the following link: http://mywebcast.churchofjesuschrist.org/Events/americanforkutahcentralstake.