Brian Jensen Stowell

Brian Jensen Stowell passed away on July 26, 2026, at the age of 83. He will be dearly missed.

Brian was born on November 29, 1942, to Verland Desmond Stowell and Grace Cecilia Jensen Stowell and grew up on a remote cattle ranch in northern Nevada. He was the oldest of six children and attended a one-room schoolhouse down the road from the family ranch until enrolling at Elko High School in 9th grade. Growing up on a ranch involved hard work from a young age, but his mother, who was a teacher herself, instilled in Brian a love of music and literature. For college, Brian chose to pursue an education far from where he was raised, enrolling at Stanford University. He initially studied literature at Stanford but after discovering a knack for economics, he switched majors and graduated in the top 5% of his class. While at Stanford, he studied abroad in France, perfecting his French language skills, a passion he maintained and cultivated for the rest of his life. Following his graduation from Stanford, he served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Paris France Mission.

After returning home, Brian studied law at Harvard Law School, where he became a member of the first class to graduate with a joint JD and MBA. It was at Harvard, in the Cambridge Singles Ward, that he met Robyn Sue Andrus. The two married following his graduation and moved to California, where Brian practiced law and they raised four children together. They moved their family to the Marshall Islands for two years in 1988, where Brian served as the legal advisor to the President of the Marshall Islands. While living in the Marshalls, Brian introduced his three oldest children to the joy of scuba diving.

Brian shared his love of travel, literature, and music with his family, along with his good-natured disdain for any dynastic sports team — he always rooted for the underdog. He took his family to Europe twice while the children were young, impressing them with his French language skills and helping them develop their own love of history and art.

Brian and Robyn relocated to Utah in 2000, in anticipation of the arrival of their first grandchild. After retiring, Brian continued to pursue his lifelong love of music, taking up the organ. He was a devoted grandfather, faithfully attending his grandchildren's sporting events and theatrical performances. In the final years of his life, Brian lived with Parkinson's Disease, facing its challenges with remarkable positivity and grace.

Brian was preceded in death by Robyn, his parents, and his brothers Dennis and Gary Stowell. He is survived by his brother Randy, sisters Linda and Rosemary, his four children – Regan Stowell, Kirk Stowell (Anne), Shannon Stowell, and Hillary Stowell – and his grandchildren: Hazen (Ridley) Stowell, Trevor Stowell, and Mary-Jane (Brett) Fleming.

Private family services will be held. Interment will be at Sandy City Cemetery.