Helen Thelma Hanson

Helen Thelma Lorentzen Hanson, 93, passed away March 25, 2016, at Morning Star Senior Living Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho of heart disease.

She was born October 15, 1922 in Salina, Utah.  She was the youngest of the four children of Ernald Godfrey Lorentzen and Beatrice Sarah Williams Lorentzen.

When she was three years old, her family moved to Shelley, Idaho, where she lived most of her life. She learned to work at a young age, thinning beets and picking potatoes along with the rest of her family, but they had many happy times together.

She attended schools in Shelley and graduated from Shelley High School in 1940.

She married Lawrence B Hanson on March 19, 1942, in the St. George LDS Temple, before he was drafted in the U.S. Army.  He was inducted on the same day their first child was born.  She lived for more than two years with her parents and in-laws until her husband was discharged from the service, after he was seriously wounded.

They were the parents of four children, who were all raised in Shelley.  They built four homes together and were involved in the community.

Lawrence worked at the Shelley Post Office and Helen was his substitute on a rural mail route, which she took over when he retired. She also eventually retired from the postal service. Helen served as the State Secretary for the Rural Letter Carriers Union and went to several national conventions.  She was a member of the organization for more than 50 years.  She also was the manager of the LDS Distribution Center in Idaho Falls for nearly 10 years.

She and Lawrence spent many of their retirement years in St. George where they made wonderful friends. They also traveled extensively in their motor home and went to Europe twice, visiting some of the places where Lawrence served during World War II.

She was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and had a strong testimony.  She served in positions in Primary and Relief Society.  She and her husband served together as temple workers and were missionaries at temples in Chicago and Denver.

Helen was a wonderful cook and enjoyed sewing and quilting.  She was an avid reader and loved to do puzzles and play cards.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Bryce Lorentzen and Allen Lorentzen, her sister ReElla Foster, a son-in-law, Ted Thompson, one grandchild and two great grandsons.

She is survived by her children, Larry (Eula) Hanson of Meridian, Gerald (Lorna) Hanson of Meridian, Shirley Thompson of Shelley and Janet (Michael) Hovey of Willard, Utah, as well as 18 grandchildren, 68 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 2, 2016, at Nalder Funeral Home, 110 West Oak Street, in Shelley, Idaho. The family will visit with friends on Friday evening from 6-7:30 p.m. at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service on Saturday.  Interment will be at Hillcrest Cemetery in Shelley.

Those who wish to make a donation in lieu of flowers may do so at a charity of their choice or to The Idaho Falls Area Humanitarian Center, 1415 North Gate Mile, Idaho Falls, ID 83401.