Velma L. Hansen

Velma Siler Hansen, 83, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, died quietly in her sleep on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 under hospice care.

Velma was born on September 15, 1925 in Pleasant View, UT to John Andrew Siler and Ruby May Cornwall. She had three older brothers, Lester, Harold, and Ernest; a younger brother Cecil; and a younger sister Lucille. Velma grew up on a farm and kept the farmer’s work ethic throughout her life.

Velma married Clinton Hansen on December 10, 1945, and they settled on a ranch in Salmon, Idaho. After becoming a widow in 1962 at age 37, Velma worked her way through college by selling Fuller Brush, earning a degree in Elementary Education from BYU-Provo in 1970. In college, Velma took an art class and discovered a passion for painting. Velma eventually minored in art and taught her grandchildren to draw and to oil paint. Many of her paintings are displayed in the homes of her children, grandchildren, and other family members.

Following her graduation from BYU, Velma worked as a school teacher in Soda Springs, ID; Snake River, ID; and Firth, ID. While teaching, Velma wrote plays for her students to perform every year and wrote new lyrics to familiar songs for her students to sing as part of the second grade performances. Velma retired from teaching in 1981 and found a love for genealogy research. Velma was actively involved in temple work and went on temple tours with friends throughout the Western United States. Velma published three books on her family line and traced one of these lines back to Adam.

Her grandchildren fondly remember Velma taking them to the public pool in Blackfoot and telling them stories while she combed and braided her granddaughters’ hair. Velma had a talent for growing plants and flowers. Velma’s daughter has a willow tree in her yard that grew from a twig from the tree she played under as a child and each of the grandchildren also have a tree from the original willow tree.

Velma is survived by her children, Joe (Judy) Hansen, Wasilla, AK; Sharlene (Lance) Silverhorn, Mesa, AZ; Roy Hansen; and Trina (Brian) Esplin, Shelley, ID. She is survived by 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Velma is preceded in death by her husband, Clinton Hansen, her parents, her four brothers, and five grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at the Firth Stake Center (823 North 675 East) in Basalt, ID. The family will receive friends Tuesday morning 9:30 till 10:40 at the church. Burial will be at the Grove City Cemetery in Blackfoot beside her beloved husband Clinton.