Leland Reed Patten
July 19, 1948 – April 13, 2025

Leland Reed Patten, age 76, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, April 13, 2025, after a life lived with grit, heart, and strength.

Born in Denver, Colorado, on July 19, 1948, Lee was the son of Lorraine Sizemore and was later adopted by Dan H. Patten. He was raised in Tabiona, Utah, by his beloved Grandma Edna Giles during his early years. While living in her home, Lee was surrounded by her children—his uncles and aunts—who became more like brothers and sisters to him and remained lifelong influences and friends.

Lee attended Granger High School, where he proudly played football as a linebacker and center, graduating in 1966. 1968 he was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. True to form, Lee took the road less traveled—trying out for the Army football team. Thanks to his talent, toughness, and God's grace, he earned a spot on the team, allowing him to serve his country while avoiding overseas deployment.

After his service, Lee returned home and began working at Frank's Draper Quality Foods in Draper, Utah. It was there that he met the perfect girl, Susan Lynne Cary. While some said he was too wild for her, love had other plans. Lee and Susan were sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple on November 19, 1971, and recently celebrated 53 years of marriage filled with love, adventure, and family. Together, they raised five children and built a legacy of 14 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Lee worked in a body shop, as an insurance adjuster, and in the oil fields of Duchesne to support his young family before landing a job as a truck driver for Chevron Oil, where he remained for 19 years.  In the mid-1970s, Lee and Susan bought an old Tudor-style house on Old State Street in Draper, set to be demolished to make room for the new I-15 freeway. They had the house moved to a large pile of dirt on 1500 N in the sleepy small town of Lehi, Ut., where they continued to raise their family. In 1995, Lee and Susan opened their first gas station—Lee's Roundup—in Lehi, Utah, followed by a second location in American Fork in 1998. In 2012, he partnered with his son Danny to start Patten Trucking, a business that continues today.

If you knew Lee, you knew he had two great passions: fast cars and good horses. Influenced by his brother-in-law Jimmy Cary, he spent several years racing cars on the Bonneville Salt Flats. His love for speed also led him to racing snowmobiles for several years. From the time he could walk, Lee was on a horse, riding, breaking, shoeing, training, breeding, and selling them. In the 1990s, he found a passion for Cutting Horse competition. He served as President of the Central Utah Cutting Horse Association for 15 years, judged high school competitions, and earned five national awards during his years of riding and competing.

Though Lee faced many health challenges—diagnosed with diabetes in 1995 and placed on dialysis in 2019—he never lost his drive or sense of humor. Even on his hardest days, he was known to say, " I've never been better" or "Best day of my life." He remained active in farming, raising horses, and running his businesses until his death.

Lee is survived by his devoted wife, Susan Lynne Cary Patten, and their children: Danny Patten (Susan Webb), Tricia VanderKooi (Eric), Lisa Parry (Shane), Suzanne Cates (David), and David Patten (Jenny),  and sister Debra Barnes. His proudest legacy lives on through 14 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lorraine Sizemore Patten and Dan H. Patten; his great-granddaughter, Oakley Sue Houston; and several uncles and cousins whom he considered siblings and dearest friends.

Above all, Lee was proudest of his family. He often said he had the best kids and grandkids in the world and didn't know why God had blessed him with such a great family.

The family would like to thank all the staff at DaVita Dialysis in Lehi, Utah, Dr. Marshall Willis, many close friends and neighbors who were always willing to help at a moment's notice, and all of the loyal customers and employees who supported and loved Lee and Susan over the years.

Viewing will be held Friday, April 18, 2025, at Wing Mortuary, 118 E Main Street, Lehi, UT, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Graveside services will be held Saturday, April 19, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. at the Lehi City Cemetery. You're welcome to bring your own chair.