Lawrence B Hanson

Lawrence B Hanson, 85, of Riverdale, Utah and formerly of Shelley, Idaho passed away January 27, 2007 at the Aspen Care Center in Ogden, Utah of natural causes.  He was under hospice care.

He was born February 12, 1921 in Shelley, Idaho to Melvin and Lillian Beckstrand Hanson, the second of 11 children.  He grew up in Shelley, working on the family farm and attended school, graduating from Shelley High School. He married his high school sweetheart Helen Lorentzen on March 19, 1942 in the Saint George, Utah LDS Temple.  They lived briefly in Long Beach, California, before he was drafted into the U.S. Army.  He served in the 821st Tank Destroyer Battalion, 29th Division as a Sergeant and was severely wounded in France in November 1944.  Following WWII, he returned to Shelley, where he worked at the Post Office.  He eventually retired as a rural mail carrier and was also employed at Shelley Cabinet Company as a cabinet maker for many years.  He was a member of the Shelley Planning and Zoning Board and built several homes in Shelley.  After retiring to St. George, he enjoyed wood working, designing scores of birdhouses and shelves as gifts for family and friends.  He also enjoyed gardening, reading, and oil painting.

He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, serving as Scouting Explorer Adviser, Elder’s Quorum President, Ward Clerk in the Shelley 1st Ward with four bishoprics for 20 years and Executive secretary.  He and his wife served a mission in the Chicago and Denver temples and were temple workers in Idaho Falls and St. George.

He is survived by his wife Helen of Riverdale, UT; four children:  Larry (Eula) Hanson of Herriman, UT, Gerald (Lorna) Hanson of Idaho Falls, ID, Shirley (Ted) Thompson of Shelley, ID, and Janet (Michael) Hovey of Willard, UT; brother, Keith Hanson of Shelley, ID; sisters, Pearl (Rene) Johnson, Fonnie Carter both of Salt Lake City, UT, Grace (Moyle) Workman of Pocatello, ID, Alva Lu Larsen of Idaho Falls, ID, and Norma (Marvin) Nielson of St. George, UT; 20 grandchildren and 34 great grandchildren and two step grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters, one brother and one grandson.

Funeral services will be held 1:00 P.M. Friday February 2nd at the Shelley First Ward Chapel (184 North Park Ave) with Bishop Mark Nelson conducting. The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 6:00 till 8:00 P.M. at Nalder Funeral Home (110 West Oak) in Shelley and Friday morning 11:30 till 12:40 A.M. at the church. 

Interment will be in the Shelley Hillcrest Cemetery with Military Rites by the American Legion Stewart Hoover Post #23 of Blackfoot.