Malamalama T. Muagututi'a Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Our father, Malamalama Tu’ipelehake Muagututi’a, age 67, passed away peacefully surrounded by family in the evening of Saturday, January 11, 2020, in Springville Utah, after a long and courageous battle with cancer and kidney failure. He was born October 16, 1952 in the small village of Amouli in American Samoa to Ruta Fasi Tu’ipelehake and Tauanu’u Falemalama Malala Mamea. Later in his life, his mother was sealed to Ti’a Ropeti Ti’a in the Los Angeles Temple and our father is sealed to them as his eternal parents, and he loved his parents very much. He grew up in American Samoa until the age of 8, before moving to Southern California. After graduating from high school, our father served as a Spanish speaking missionary in Bolivia in 1972. In 1975, he traveled to Oaxaca, Mexico on a bus where he met a loving and caring LDS Mexican family who took him in as their own son. He loved his Mexican parents, and family in Oaxaca very much. He worked as an English teacher and professor for most of his life having earned a Bachelor’s of Arts degree from BYU-Hawaii in 1980, a Teaching Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language from BYU-Provo in 1984, and a Master’s of Arts degree from BYU-Provo in 1986. He loved music and all things creative, such as cooking and painting. Being creative was an outlet that brought him great joy. He will forever be remembered for his talent of languages and his love for genealogy. Family history was always one of his great passions, and he loved to share his knowledge about his Samoan and Tongan roots. He was also a man of many languages and could fluently speak English, Samoan, Spanish, Swedish, and Portuguese, just to name a few. His grandchildren, especially, gave him renewed purpose and so much joy in life in his later years. His family and the gospel of Jesus Christ were most important and main priority in his life. Our father first married Helena Inkeri Kääriä while they were students at BYU-Hawaii in 1977. They were sealed in the Los Angeles Temple. He later married Lolesi Lei’ataua of Manono, in 1994 in Samoa and was also sealed to her later on in the Samoa temple. He is survived by his 4 children: Raija George (Sam - Jasmina, Amaija and SJ in Provo, UT), Ihana Heidenberg (Marcus - Kingston, Samson, and Melia in Sundsvall, Sweden), Elli Masoe (Tu’ufuli - Aulelei, Tai’si, and Alma in Sundsvall, Sweden), and Jasmina Tuipelehake-Muagutut’a (Henrik - Vera and Elsie in Sundsvall, Sweden) from his marriage to his first wife Helena (Sweden), as well as, by his 7 children: Seali’i Muagututi’a (Kayla - Saint, and Khavaly in Arcadia, CA), Tautaipaopao Muagututi’a (US Navy in San Diego, CA), Malamalama Jr Muagututi’a (Provo, UT), Gau’ula Fanene (Iosefatu - Kila in Lehi, UT), Malini Muagututi’a (Samoa), Fatafehi Muagututi’a (Samoa) and Eti Muagututi’a (Samoa) from his marrige to his wife Lolesi (Samoa). We will be celebrating the life of our Dear Dad Malamalama Tu’ipelehake-Muagututi’a on Saturday, January 25th . His services will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints located at 1625 S Slate Canyon Dr, Provo, UT. The Family Service will be held at 9 AM which will be followed by the Bishop’s Service at 12 PM. He will be buried at the Provo Cemetery (610 S State St, Provo, UT). THANK YOU everyone for your love and support that you have shown our father and our family. We greatly appreciate it, and our hearts are full. THANK YOU to the amazing staff at Stonehenge in Orem and Springville, for taking such great care of our father. A special THANK YOU to Christine (in Orem), Yuka and Brenda (in Springville) for the special love and care you showed him and our family. You truly touched our hearts and we are forever grateful. THANK YOU to the A-plus hospice team, especially Jordan and Shelley for being there every step of the way, helping my father be comfortable, and our family be comforted during this difficult time. Our father will never be forgotten and he will always be loved.

Malamalama T. Muagututi'a

October 16, 1952 - January 11, 2020