A Life Built with Steel, Soil, and Devotion: Remembering Sterling F. Henson
Sterling F. Henson was a dedicated employee of Mark Steel Corporation for 40 years, having a hand in many construction projects. Henson passed away on October 18, 2026, at the age of 76, surrounded by his family at his home in Magna, Utah. He leaves behind a legacy defined by enduring craftsmanship, a sprawling multi-generational family, and a quiet dedication to the projects that built modern entertainment and infrastructure.
Born on June 6, 1950, at the LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, Henson was the fifth of seven children born to Willard Alvin Henson and Hattie Mae Sheldon. He grew up on Pacific Avenue in Salt Lake City alongside his siblings Alvin, Melvin, Ruby, Marvin, David, and Arlene. After graduating from West High School in 1968, he pursued higher education at Utah Technical College at Salt Lake, earning an Associates of Applied Science degree in Electronics.
From New England Missionaries to a Salt Lake Temple Marriage
His path took a defining spiritual and personal turn in the early 1970s. Henson served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints in the New England States Mission in 1971-1973, where a highlight of his service included acting as a guide at the Joseph Smith Memorial. During this period, a hometown friend arranged for a young woman named Sandra Lee Cutler to write letters to him.
That correspondence sparked a lifelong partnership. Sterling and Sandra were married for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple on May 17, 1974. The couple settled in Magna, Utah, where they raised five children: Sterling Lee, Tammy Ann, Joseph Lee, David Lee, and Benjamin Willard. Over the decades, their family expanded to include 12 grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Four Decades at Mark Steel and a Touch on Popular Culture
Professionally, Henson was a dedicated employee of Mark Steel Corporation for 40 years. His hands touched complex, heavy-duty construction and engineering projects that spanned remote wilderness, high-altitude tourism, and global theme parks.
His portfolio at Mark Steel included contributions to the John Atlantic Burr Ship and the Charles Hall Ferry on Lake Powell. He also helped fabricate structural elements for the Grand Canyon Skywalk, the Stratosphere, mechanical components for the original Jurassic Park ride at Universal Studios in California, and thrill rides such as The Rocket and Turbo Drop at the Lagoon.
Outside of his formal employment, Henson applied that same mechanical intuition to his personal life. Described as a self-taught, do-it-yourself craftsman, he built custom wooden furniture for family members and fabricated two wood-burning stoves. He also found solace in nature, spending time riding motorcycles and ATVs at the family property in the West Tooele Desert, and cultivating a dedicated vegetable garden.
Attend Funeral Services at the Chapel
Friends and family may visit on Friday, November 6, 2026, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, and on Saturday, November 7, 2026, from 9:00 am to 10:45 am at the Lake Ridge 11th Ward Chapel, located at 7825 W. Sharon Drive in Magna, Utah. Funeral services will follow at the same location on Saturday, November 7th, at 11:00 am. Interment will follow at Redwood Memorial Cemetery, located at 6500 South Redwood Road in West Jordan, Utah.
