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Roger Hansen Obituary
He was born October 18, 1926 in Ephraim, Utah to Ora Leo and Lola Lavern Tuft Hansen. He attended grade school in Ephraim and then moved to Salt Lake City, where he attended Bryant Jr. and West High School. He graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor's degree in business and then received his Masters Degree from NYU. He also attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison where he pursued a PhD.
He served for two years as a court recorder in the U.S Navy. He then served a 2½-year LDS mission in Denmark and later presided over the Denmark, Copenhagen Mission with his wife and family from 1975-1978. This was a very fond time in his life and he holds all those missionaries he served very dear to his heart.
He married Kathleen Giles December 17, 1964 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple, and together they had four children. He loved music and plays. He loved to read, travel and work crossword puzzles. He was a trivia buff and loved to watch Jeopardy where he was also a contestant. He was employed by the Deseret News Press, Murdock Travel, and was also a professor at the University of Utah, LDS Business College, and Salt Lake Community College. He was beloved by his students and taught school until he was 85 years old.
More than anything else he loved his family and the time they spent together. These were his most cherished memories. Being around and playing with his grandchildren were his favorite things to do.
He is survived by his sister Mary Lou Coles (Mike), his wife Kathleen, his children Elizabeth Smith (Brian), Anne Elise Combs (Jim), Laurel Anne Peterson (Aaron), and 15 adorable, wonderful, beautiful, amazing grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Ruth, and his son Steven.
Funeral services will be held Friday, August 7, 2015, 11:00 a.m. at the Mount Olympus Chapel, 4635 S. Lanark Road (3315 E.) Salt Lake City, Utah. A viewing will be held Thursday, August 6, 2015 from 6-8 p.m. at Wasatch Lawn Memorial, 3401 Highland Drive, and Friday morning at 10:00 a.m. at the church prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the LDS Perpetual Education Fund, or the General Missionary Fund.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Roger Hansen
Lynn Whipple
November 30, 2015
Dear Sister Hansen, I'm sorry I only learned too late of President Hansen's passing. My father, Blaine Whipple, also passed away this past June. So it has been a time of reflection, some sorrow and much gratitude. Thanks for sharing your lives with us as Danish Missionaries. President Hansen's life and example have remained with me over the many years. Please know of my love and appreciation. May the Lord strengthen you now and going forward.
Greg McCall
August 10, 2015
Kathleen and Family, My deepest condolences on your loss. I will forever treasure the time I served under your husband and father as a missionary in Denmark in 1977 and 1978. My first area was in Bagsværd, across a field from your home. My trainer, Elder Smith, and I enjoyed being able to visit with you in your home. I will never forget the sacred time I shared with President Hansen in our last interview when we knelt in prayer together before his release and he offered a powerful prayer on my behalf. I cherish that memory and the blessing it has been in my life to have known and served with him. Til vi ses for tronens fod. Med Kærlige Hilsener. Greg McCall
August 8, 2015
Kathleen, We just returned today from California. I'm so sorry we weren't here to find out about the Funeral. We would have been there. We love you and Rodger and though we don't see you often we feel close. Our respects and love. David and Gail Jacobs
August 8, 2015
Oh, how I loved President Hansen and family. May God bless you! From Jim Skidmore
August 8, 2015
Dear Kathleen and Family,
We are grateful for our longtime association with Roger Hansen and his beloved family. The funeral service on Friday was a beautiful tribute to him as fond memories and experiences and examples of his excellent character were so sweetly shared by those who know him best -- his beautiful family. He must have been very pleased by the tender expressions of love and admiration for him through loving words and beautiful music. Our family joins us in expressing love for the Hansen Family, Sincerely, Rex and Bonnie Pinegar
3 grandchildren ago
Lanny Smith
August 8, 2015
Have hand you laid on the Lord's plow, then look you not back. Denmark was a long ways from home for me but President Hansen and his gentle ways made it seem closer to Heaven than home. "Gud vaere med dig til we ses igen" was a powerfully spiritual experience in the Aalborg chapel that I remember to this day. I know he was a man of God and one that was in the right place at the right time and doing what was right that blessed my life for good and for ever. Elder Harlan (Lanny) Smith, Calgary Alberta Canada
Danmark 1977 - 1979
Carol Nixon
August 7, 2015
Kathleen, Our hearts go out to you as we think of Roger and you and the memories we have shared over the years. How precious you are -- and your sweet family -- and we send our love and best wishes to you all.
Carolyn Burgoyne
August 6, 2015
Dear Kathleen & family:
My deepest love and sympathy and thoughts are with you tonight as I write this.
I am Carolyn Burgoyne, Conrad's wife. I remember so many things about Roger, the fun Christmas parties, travels with you two, and working at Murdock Travel with Roger for several years. He was always happy, upbeat, and positive. He made others feel good about themselves, He appreciated any small thing that was done for him. He had great influence with many people.....He was a great man. May Heavenly Father bless you and your family during this time.
With great sympathy, many prayers, and love to attend you.;
Sincerely, Carolyn Burgoyne
August 6, 2015
Kathleen, Sincere condolences are sent to you and your daughters. Roger was a person I looked up to. He influenced his students and his missionaries, and helped them live better lives. He was blessed to have children and grandchildren who loved him. The world is a better place because Roger
lived. May you find comfort in beautiful memories.
Don and Deveda Vernon
Dee and Kay Jacobs
August 5, 2015
Our deepest condolences to you, Kathleen and your family. The wonderful work you did in Denmark lives on. We spent beautiful times in the Copenhagen Temple with a number of your converts. Not many of us have lived on Grapilevej. On Roger's recommendation we found a wonderful new Mission Home to replace it. Our love, Dee and Kay
August 5, 2015
I worked with Roger at SLCC and always loved his happy upbeat attitude about everything in life. He will be missed so many who had the great opportunity of knowing and working with him. May his family find peace and love through his memories and the love he had for them. Julie Pugmire
August 5, 2015
Roger is one of my favorite men and I feel blessed to have lived in the ward with him for 23 years! Kathleen, I love you and look up to your beautiful relationship with your daughters. You have made me a better mother and grandmother, and you are a true friend. Hugs and prayers, Carie Woodbury
Scott Ward
August 5, 2015
Kathleen and your family I send my sympathy to you. Please know that my experience serving as a missionary (1975-77) and being made to feel like a son/brother of your family in Denmark were spiritual tipping point experiences for me. I recall that your family and my missionary group essentially entered the mission field as greenies together and the way Roger and your family helped us all adapt, while you were busy doing your own adapting, set a great service tone for my time in Denmark. Your examples have always been remarkable and I have thought of you all often. I have the fondest of memories of Roger and am honored to have served under him. I will keep you and your family in my prayers.
Scott Ward
August 5, 2015
Our deepest sympathies to Kathleen, daughters and families at this time of Roger's passing. Roger and Kathleen exemplified the welcoming hand from the time of our first meeting when we became a neighbor. Our paths seemed to cross and merge often during the past 20 years, and we are enriched by many memories and experiences from those associations. Kind thoughts and wishes as you all make the adjustments ahead. Roget: thanks for the memories. Dee & Beverly Stevenson
Frank Overfelt
August 4, 2015
Kathleen and daughters you have my & my family's sympathies. We so enjoyed living next to you for many years- we couldn't have asked for better neighbors. What a grand reunion Steven & Roger must be having. My very best to you all!!!! Love Frank Overfelt
August 4, 2015
Sister Hansen, our condolences to you and the family. Roger will be greatly missed and what a powerful influence he was on all the young men that served under him in the Danish Mission. I have such great memories of him as a mission president. Our prayers will be with you and your family as you go through this difficult time.
Sincerely,
Dave & Pat Hansen
PS. We are the parents of the Hansen Twins (Elisa & Lisa)
Jonathan Durrett
August 4, 2015
Roger served me as one of his missionaries in Denmark between 1974-76. A convert to the Church in 1972, I needed a mentor and example to show me how I might exercise my priesthood as an Elder, father and leader in the Gospel. Roger filled that bill for me. I loved him like my own dad, and felt his caring and love for me. I always felt special during the Mission President's interview, and always looked forward to those spiritually inspiring meetings.
Years later, when I served as a bishop I followed Roger's example in interviewing my priests who also looked forward to these meetings.
I suppose of all of the nice things anyone could say about someone, the nicest is that I felt loved by him no matter what I did. That is the same way I feel about the Savior.
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