Karen Stevens Hanna's Obituary
Karen Stevens was born to Glen M Stevens and Ruby Jean Milner Stevens at 9 pm, January 13, 1940, in the Price City Hospital in Price, Utah. Her mother remembered that it was a cold winter night and that she was a lovely, perfect little girl. As she grew, her siblings joined the family: Shirley, Richard, John, and Michael. Karen eventually learned to play the piano and the flute. Music and the piano in particular were a great source of comfort and joy throughout her life.
Karen graduated from Spanish Fork High School in 1957; she began attending Brigham Young University that same year, and among other collegiate activities, danced as an International Folk Dancer. Karen continued at BYU until her mission call to the French Mission in 1961. Karen entered the Salt Lake mission home on June 19th and served faithfully in both France and Belgium and in cities like Rennes and Paris. She especially enjoyed working with the youth and her time editing the French Improvement Era magazine, the Etoile. Her time in France and her love of the French language were a great source of joy for the rest of her life and especially in her career.
Karen continued her journey of higher education after her mission and received her Bachelor of Arts degree from BYU in 1964 and later went on to receive her Master of Arts degree in English from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1990. Karen taught junior high and high school English. French and Journalism in Nevada and Utah, and at the collegiate level at Utah Valley University. Karen continued to find great joy working with young people and a highlight of her time as a teacher was the summer trips she took to France with her students. When she was young, Karen at one time taught speedreading and it was during one of her speedreading classes that she met a handsome young man named Frank Hanna.
Karen and Frank were married in the Salt Lake Temple on October 6th, 1969. They soon welcomed four beautiful children into their family: Kristine, Mathew, Anneliese, and Jeremy.
Karen’s greatest joy was in her family. And each of the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were cherished. At the time of Karen’s passing, there were 27 grandchildren, including a stillborn baby boy, little Ronan, who now has his grandmother with him. Nine great-grandchildren have now joined the family and seeing their little faces always made Karen smile.
Karen retired as a full-time teacher and yet still felt the desire to serve. Karen served as a family history missionary with FamilySearch. She also traveled during her adult years, visiting Europe, visiting Australia and even returning to Paris for the Paris Temple Open House in 2017.
Karen never slowed down and would have kept serving, but a fall and a hip fracture significantly changed her daily life. Frank lovingly served as her full-time caregiver for 6 years until the day of her passing. During her final days, Karen enjoyed visits with her children, grandchildren and beloved relatives until she quietly and peacefully passed into the next life on Saturday, February 28th, 2026.
Karen once remarked that she loved sunflowers because of the way they follow the sun, turning towards the light and warmth and life it gives. Similarly, she hoped that her posterity would continually look to the Son of God, Jesus the Christ, for the light, warmth, and life He brought into her life and can bring into each of our lives as we follow Him.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1305 North 100 East, American Fork, UT 84003. A viewing will be held at 10:00 am, followed by a memorial service at 11:00 at the same location.
Interment will be at the American Fork Cemetery, 26 West 600 North, American Fork, UT 84003
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