Catherine Montgomery

Catherine Dale Montgomery

Our beloved mother and grandmother, Catherine Dale Brown Montgomery peacefully returned to her Heavenly Father on July 26, 2026, at the age of 84, after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.

Catherine was born on September 10, 1941, in Phoenix, Arizona, to Emma Frances Warren and Gordon Dale Brown. Catherine was named after her paternal grandmother, “Sadie Catherine,” and “Dale” after her father. She had one older brother, Warren.

Catherine enjoyed a happy childhood in Phoenix, filled with friends and family. She especially loved going to her dad’s drugstore after school to get an ice cream soda.

Catherine didn’t grow up going to church. At the age of nine, a friend invited Warren and Catherine to go to their Christian church with them. At that time, Catherine’s mother, Emma, was not active in the LDS faith, but decided that she should return and take them to her church. So, at age 9, Catherine decided to be baptized as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, beginning a lifelong journey of faith and discipleship. Catherine’s father was later baptized when she was 16, and they were sealed as a family in the Mesa Temple when she was 17 years old.

Catherine loved learning from an early age. She excelled in school, enjoyed sewing and ballet dancing, and graduated with honors from West Phoenix High School. When she was young, her father used to take them on road trips to look at college campuses, and that’s how she chose to attend Utah State University. She thought it was the most beautiful campus. It was there that she joined the Kappa Delta sorority, and met the love of her life… a Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity boy who wrestled for Utah State and played first chair trumpet in the USU band, Byron Montgomery. Their courtship quickly blossomed into an eternal love story, and they were sealed in the Mesa Temple on March 20, 1962.

Together they welcomed ten beloved children, who were the joy of Byron & Catherine’s life. Catherine always wanted 10 children, as she just had one brother and always thought her friends with large families were so lucky.

Throughout Byron’s career with the US Foreign Agriculture Service, their family was blessed to live in many places around the world, including Virginia, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Italy, and Montana. Catherine learned new languages and carted her large family around on buses, subways, and throughout busy city streets. As their older children were starting high school, Byron and Catherine felt they should settle down and make a permanent home in Utah. Catherine was a stay-at-home mom for about two decades, and she went back to work in the early 1980’s as a school teacher at Central Middle School.

In 1990, Catherine earned her master’s degree and an administrative certificate in education from USU. She had spent ten years working in the Ogden School District as a teacher, and she now began working as an assistant principal at Ogden High School, Ben Lomond High School, and later, principal at several elementaries in the Ogden School District. She influenced countless young lives through kindness, encouragement, and steady leadership. She was also very active in the Utah State Alumni Association, where she served for a time as the president.

Nothing brought Catherine greater joy than her family. She loved being a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She and Byron were blessed with 10 children, 31 grandchildren, and 25 great-grandchildren... and counting! Together, they were always on the sidelines of their kids’ and grandkids’ sporting events, concerts, recitals, and school programs. We have fond memories of being crammed in their small home, with all of us wanting to hang out together. We will miss Cath’s homemade rolls, pies, bread, spaghetti sauce, caramels, and million-dollar fudge.

Her greatest legacy, however, is her unwavering testimony of Jesus Christ. Catherine faithfully served in many callings for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. After they retired, she and Byron worked for several years as ushers at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, spent a few summers as missionaries at the Palmyra, New York Pageant, and they later served a mission together in the Guatemala City Temple. They loved the people, made dear friends -- especially their fellow missionary couples also serving in the temple; they affectionately called themselves the Arizona Mafia. They absolutely cherished their time as missionaries in the Guatemala City Temple.

Catherine was preceded in death by her loving parents, her husband, Byron, her son, Mark, her brother, Warren, and her granddaughter, Katie. She leaves behind her children: Gordon & Tammy Montgomery, Melissa Montgomery, Beth & Doug Gosney, Jeff & Dawna Montgomery, Scott & Kim Montgomery, Jennie & Daren Turner, Melanie & Steve Brenchley, David & Tracy Montgomery, Robin & Evan Jamison, and Michelle Montgomery.

Her family rejoices in the knowledge that because of the Savior Jesus Christ, death is not the end. Catherine knew, and we know, that because of Him, families can be together forever.

Catherine's viewing will take place at the North Ogden 7th Ward, 205 East Elbetrta Drive, North Ogden, Utah on August 7, 2026 from 6-8 PM. A funeral service will be held on August 8, 2026 at the North Ogden 7th Ward at 11:00 AM.

Please help us celebrate Catherine by sharing memories and uploading photos to her memorial page at https://www.myers-mortuary.com/obituaries/catherine-montgomery

Services entrusted to Myers Mortuary in Ogden.