Birth date: Sep 5, 1952 Death date: Nov 23, 2018
Merrill Robert Hansen (66) died November 23, 2018, in Saratoga Springs, Utah, after battling pancreatic cancer for the past 13 months. Never once did he complain about his situation and the pain he was suffering. He was always ver Read Obituary
Merrill and I were best friends at West High School in Bakersfield. We lived just a few houses away from each other in Park Stockdale and were in a tight group of neighborhood buddies.
Merrill and I spent many enjoyable hours riding bikes, listening to records and exchanging deep thoughts on religion and politics while smoking Marlboros on my front lawn. His humor and easygoing disposition offered relief from our friends' more volatile temperaments.He was always welcome.
Vaya Con Dios my quiet friend!
I have know Merrill since I was in grammar school. He was always kind and quiet. I am so sadden to hear of his pasting, we have remained friends on classmate for many years. I know he was truly dedicated to his church and lived his beliefs. He was a good friend and man. I know he is in a very special place.
I met Merrill in high school and we became friends. Later while living in San Diego we were roommates for short periods but he was always part of the group until he move to Utah. This last year we connected several times talking and never did he complain or say why me. He was at peace with his situation. He has left me and his other San Diego friends with many "Merrill" stories that we still enjoy sharing.
I will miss my friend. Lou Haberkern
I first met Merrill in the spring of 1993 when he moved into Old Farm condos & apartments in Salt Lake City. He came to Elders Quorum meeting one Sunday while I was teaching.
I liked to use the discussion method and it was hard due to the fact that it was a relatively small group of Elders. It was hard to get the degree of participation that I wanted. That is until the new guy (Merrill) started opening his mouth.
I knew immediately that this guy knew the scriptures really well and he became the backbone of my classes. He told me that when he was growing up that his parents and family made sure he learned the gospel well. I was so grateful to have Merrill in my class because he added so much knowledge and participation to the group.
We became good friends away from church and have remained friends over the years. I never saw Merrill mad at anyone and we personally never had a hard word in all those years. He was a good, pure person who cared a great deal about other people and others liked him as well.
We played church basketball together for many years, we played tennis a lot because Merrill really liked that game, and later we played golf together. I tried earlier to get him interested in golf, but it just the wrong time. Then later he did get interested in golf and he loved to play with his brothers in Utah County and with me when in Salt Lake.
It is hard to lose a really good friend especially at a relatively young age, but I sensed that Merrill accepted it well and was in a very good place spiritually these past months. If anyone was prepared and ready to move on...it was Merrill. I'm sure he is in a much better place now. I'm so grateful for my testimony!
Rich Kletting
I will forever giggle when I think of the evening you teased Rufus by trying to take his dog food. You are very luck you kept your nose. I loved you then, I love you now and I know you loved me too. Thank you for five wonderful years as companions and for so many memories that mean so much. HUG HUG sweetheart and rest easy now. You made such a wonderful impression on every life you touched.
