LeMar Olyn Hanson's Obituary
LeMar Olyn Hanson was born on June 23, 1927, in McCammon, Idaho. Our Father, Bonus Dad, Papa, Brother, Brother-in-law, Uncle and Friend passed away peacefully on November 16, 2023 at Barton Creek Senior Living in Bountiful, Utah.
LeMar was the oldest of three children born to Leo Olin and Mary Shumway Hanson who owned a dairy farm in McCammon. After his graduation from McCammon High School he enlisted in the Navy and was stationed in San Diego, California for one year. He attended Utah State University for two years and honorably served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the East Central States Mission from 1948 to 1950. On June 5, 1952, he married Beverly Winn in the Idaho Falls Temple. He returned to USU to finish his education and graduated commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the Air Force and served in Cheyenne, Wyoming and Pleasanton, California where their daughter, Mardene, was born on October 2, 1954. When they returned to Idaho LeMar was offered a partnership in his father-in-law’s Dry Farm. They were expecting their second child when on August 10, 1956, Beverly was stricken with polio and eventually confined to a wheelchair. On December 24, 1956 their son, Bruce, was born, but was stillborn. This was the most difficult time of their married life, but from this additional sadness a great spiritual understanding started to build that blessed them from there on.
In the fall of 1957 LeMar was asked to assist the Seminary Teacher of the new consolidated Marsh Valley High School who had an overflow of students. He soon found a love of teaching that could not be denied. He taught at the seminary for eight years. During that time, he graduated with a Masters Degree in Psychology from BYU. In 1967 he accepted a position at the Ephraim LDS Institute of Religion at Snow College. They made new friends and became involved in their new community. LeMar was very self-sufficient and not afraid to study and try new things. He designed and built a home that would accommodate Beverly and her wheelchair thereby giving her more freedom. He loved basketball from his youth and became a fixture on the court in the early morning hours with fellow teachers and students playing until his mid 80’s. He loved to teach and research Family History. There were many ancestors and thousands of others that he helped obtain their temple covenants through his research and all he taught who helped their ancestors. He wrote beautiful poetry, sculpted busts of the Savior, David O. McKay and Spencer W. Kimball and drew a portrait of his mother. As a family they went camping in a tent, traveled across the United States and into Canada.
On November 8, 1982, his sweetheart Beverly passed away due to complications from diabetes. He was grateful for his testimony of the Plan of Salvation and knew Beverly was free of the encumbrance of the wheelchair and was reunited with their many loved ones and that they would be together again.
In the spring of 1984 LeMar was asked to be the Coordinator of Seminaries and Institutes in Las Vegas, Nevada for three years. During that time, he was introduced to a lovely widow with 5 daughters. They found they enjoyed each other’s company. When they introduced their daughters and their families it was a magical connection. Instead of Step they referred to each other as Bonus Father, Mother, Daughters, and Sisters. LeMar and Virginia were married in the Manti Temple on September 5, 1987, and moved back to Ephraim where he resumed teaching. He and Virginia enjoyed cruises and traveling to many areas of the world. They enjoyed Hale Center Theater and the Utah Symphony together and gathered for many family reunions, weddings, and mission farewells with their blended family. They served a mission in the Tirana, Albania Mission and became friends with many wonderful Albanians and fellow missionaries.
LeMar was a man of integrity, service, love, and kindness. He was a dedicated servant of the Lord and gave his best effort as a Ministering Brother, and Home Teacher. He served as the Bishop of the Snow College First Ward, the Ephraim West Ward, in the Manti Stake Presidency and as the Ephraim Stake Patriarch.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia, his sister Lois Davis, Idaho Falls, Idaho; his brother Reed (Linda) Hanson, Boise, Idaho; his daughters Mardene (Royce) Thayne, West Jordan, Utah; Charyn (Mitch) Amos and Jamel (Steve) Fox, Las Vegas, Nevada; Deidra (Steve) Thueson, Bountiful, Utah; VaLynn (Alan) Olive, Reno, Nevada; and Laurae (Robert) Simmons, Layton, Utah. Their blended family has 26 grandchildren and 32 great grandchildren with 4 more on the way.
LeMar was preceded in death by his wife, Beverly, his parents Leo and Mary, his son, Bruce, and his Brother-in-law Van Davis.
The Family would like to thank the wonderful neighbors, friends and ward members for their love and assistance to LeMar and Virginia during their final months living in Ephraim. We would also like to thank Aspen Physicians Group and Utah Home Health and Hospice especially Season Farrar for her loving care. We are also grateful for almost two years of excellent care and service from the staff of Barton Creek Senior Living.
Family was everything to LeMar. He was not shy about sharing his testimony, his inspiring stories, and love for his family. He was a wonderful patriarch for our family and his presence will be missed. VaLynn expressed beautifully what we all feel, “I’m sure his first wife, Beverly, has been anxiously awaiting their reunion and I can envision my father, Larry grasping LeMar in the most tender of hugs thanking him for his great care of my mother, his daughters, and grandchildren. Papa, you are such a blessing in our lives and will always be! We love you!”
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, November 25, 2023 at the Bountiful 25th Ward meetinghouse, 1500 South 600 East, Bountiful, with a viewing prior from 10 to 10:45 a.m. LeMar will be interred at the Arimo, Idaho Cemetery on Monday, November 27 at 11 a.m. Zoom link for the services: https://zoom.us/j/96521000839?pwd=VGRQMXNzSXlmOHI6QkUremgyaWdvdz09
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