LOGAN, Utah — The community gathered on Friday to remember a Tremonton police officer, Sergeant Lee Sorensen, a dedicated community member, father, and uncle. However, those who spoke on Friday about Sorensen say he will be remembered as a best friend to those who knew him.
Watch: Full memorial service for Sgt. Lee Sorensen
“Our time working together was often spent asking each other for advice,” Kirk Larsen, a family friend of the Sorensens, stated. “He was a fountain of knowledge, and he knew the law. And if he didn’t know an answer, he would find it.”
Larsen also remembered Lee’s love of agriculture, saying, “Every June, I would get a call from him. And he would ask, ‘Can you smell that?’ They started cutting hay today.”
“I don’t know how they assign jobs in heaven,” Larsen continued. “But I hope Lee gets the job of cutting hay.”
Watch: Family friend Kirk Larsen remembers Sgt. Lee Sorensen
Sorensen was shot and killed, along with Officer Eric Estrada, on August 17 after the two responded to a home where a domestic violence incident was believed to have occurred.
NORTHERN UTAH
WATCH: Ofc. Estrada remembered as family man, protector of community
Sgt. Sorensen arrived at the Spectrum Arena on the campus of Utah State University in a flag-draped casket surrounded by members of his law enforcement family.
During his eulogy for his colleague, Lt. Skyler Gailey of the Tremonton/Garland Police Department spoke about how Sorensen’s faith helped his career in law enforcement. “While he served in Venezuela, he learned to speak fluent Spanish. Which later helped him as a law enforcement officer.”
Watch: The eulogy of Sergeant Lee Sorensen
“I don’t have time to tell all of Lee’s accomplishments in life,” Sorensen’s brother Will said. “But as you heard his obituary, how much more can ask of somebody to accomplish than he did.”
Will Sorensen also remembered how his brother’s dream was to get a college degree. “How many 56 year olds whose life long dream is to get a college education? In 2025, Lee did that…”
In a profound memory that Will Sorensen shared was the impact that Lee had on a member of the community. “He told me he was pulled over by Lee three different times for no seat belt. He let him off the first two times. The third time, he gave him a $100 ticket.” Will continued to speak about how Lee then talked to the other people in the car about the necessity for seat belts and safety.
“Let’s not lose the fact that two great individuals lost that night and their families. Let’s be true heroes and let the love and charity go on,” Will Sorensen expressed towards the end of his remarks.
Watch: Full remarks by Gov. Spencer Cox at the funeral of Sgt. Sorensen
Governor Spencer Cox was the memorial’s final speaker and spoke on the impact that Sorensen had on his community. “My regrets, and I have a few, are that I didn’t get a chance to know Lee or Erik before they were taken from us. But in the days that have followed, I’ve gotten the opportunity to know both of them very well.”
Cox also spoke about meeting Sorensen’s family and how they were holding up others around them during tragedy. “I found out it was their 31st wedding anniversary. And some how through the darkness and the tears, Lanette was comforting everyone else.”
“I learned a lot about them that day and the couple that they are,” Cox stated.
The Governor wrapped his speech saying, “I don’t know what it is like in heaven. But I know we have needed some rain. And I know somebody who got a degree in agriculture knew that we had been praying for rain for a long time. And I dont know if those were tears falling on our state this week. Or if Lee went into his boss up there and made it clear we needed some help down here. But I’m grateful that Lee is watching over all of us and especially his family.”
