LaVonne T. Van Orden

LaVonne Thomander Van Orden, born January 21, 1931, slipped away from this life on November 17, 2022. She joined Richard Thomson VanOrden to whom she was married to for nearly sixty-eight years. She quietly and extraordinarily excelled at everything she did, and it would take pages to adequately honor her. Therefore, only highlights of her life follow:

LaVonne was born to goodly parents, Pauline Romney Thomander and Veron Samuel Thomander in Newark, New Jersey during the Depression. Consecration and obedience to the Gospel of Christ were foremost in her childhood home. She learned frugality, hard-work, to sew like a tailor, and appreciate simple things to name a few. She was the second of five children. With her siblings in order: Donna Bench, Joan Stevens, Alan Thomander-who preceded her in death, and Peggy Ann Leonard.

Music:

Music was one of the defining streams in LaVonne's life. LaVonne had perfect pitch meaning she could sing any tone simply by being asked. This gift aided her through her musical career which began early! Even at age 8, she was composing music and won an award. She and Donna tap danced together performing in New York City as small children. But it was her study of piano under Miss Buck that would shape our Mom's life so completely.

She excelled at the piano to the point that she was offered a scholarship to Juilliard in New York City but chose instead to attend Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah which was about as different as could be from her life in Newark, New Jersey but it was her first opportunity to be and live near the center of the Church. During her first year at BYU, she recorded an entry for a national piano contest and won! The next year the rules were changed so that only people who had studied in actual music conservatories could compete. The rule change pointed directly at her.

While at BYU she became the accompanist for the BYU choirs and there met the gifted composer, Crawford Gates, and a lifelong friendship with Crawford and his family began.

She graduated from Brigham Young University in 1952 with a degree in Applied Music, Education and began teaching Junior High math and choir and orchestra. During 1953-4 Mom sang in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and in 1955, she completed a Master of Arts degree in Music Theory. It was during this time that she agreed to a blind date and met Richard Thompson Van Orden who she would marry in 1954.

Music continued to be an important path as she participated in an outstanding group of piano performers known as Piano Club in Salt Lake City for many many years. Women who loved to play and would work up a piece so that they could perform it for each other.

Her musical skill not only blessed the lives of the Primary children in the Federal Heights Ward but there she formed the Federal Heights Chorale, one of the finest ward choirs. It was during that time that she realized a particularly special gift, to take non-trained singers and form them into a musical group. This skill was highlighted in a General Conference Choir which performed in 1977 and a choir in the first General Young Women's Meeting in 1985. Also particularly satisfying for her was the time she spent on a mission at the Jerusalem Center from 1999 to 2000 conducting choirs with students studying there. She especially enjoyed the impromptu singing of hymns done in the Upper Room.

LaVonne came back from their mission to continue being a ward choir director at the Canyon Road Ward including directing many choirs for Stake conferences. She ended her musical career as an organist for the Salt Lake Temple which she did into her 80s.

The Church:

Our Mom willingly served in every auxiliary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Often as a teacher or in leadership roles. She served on the Young Women General Board from 1974 to 1978, including time as the chairman of the Mia Maid Committee where she was part of the team who developed the Personal Progress Program and highlights of her experiences included touring to Europe and South America giving speeches to large regional conferences.

She supported Richard when he served as Bishop of the 13th Ward.

She and Richard served three missions which included, serving in the Jerusalem Center, the Madrid Spain Temple, and the Washington DC Temple.

Her magnum opus was a newsletter, Staff Notes which she funded, created, printed and published for 10 years from 1989 to 1999. Its focus was music in the church, helping people serving in various capacities in the Church and the effect music can have on teaching the gospel.

She served for several years as a temple ordinance worker and a shift supervisor in the Salt Lake Temple. She loved supporting the eternal work done there. She spent thousands of hours working on genealogy and honoring her heritage recognizing the sacrifices made by those who went before. She wept when the Salt Lake Temple closed for remodeling telling her daughter that never again in this life would she be able to visit her Temple.

Employment:

As stated earlier, Mom taught Junior High for a few years at Draper Junior High before she and Dad moved to San Diego as he began his naval career and worked on completing his medical training. Through the years she gave a few piano lessons. One important job she took was as the choir teacher for Carden School. It allowed her daughters, Lori and Sara to go to Carden and receive the quality education she and Richard so wanted for their children.

A brilliant organizer, she worked for many years in the Church Office Building in several departments including, the temple department, the welfare department and the Thrasher Research Fund. The highlight of her experience was working with Elder Yoshihiku Kikuchi, one of the Seventy, as his personal secretary. A job she truly loved. It was he who encouraged LaVonne to create the book Blessed by the Hymns published by Deseret Book in 1989. It was through the sales of this book that she was able to finance and maintain the newsletter Staff Notes.

Marriage and Family:

Last but certainly not least, it is important to recognize LaVonne as a committed loving and caring mother and wife. Richard's naval career took them from San Diego to Connecticut then to Washington DC. While there, they adopted their three children, Joel, Lori, and Sara (Sally). (Did we hit a homerun or what)

A stint during winter in Great Lakes, Illinois, ended Richard's time in the Navy and they moved back to Washington DC and opened Richard's first private practice. After a short time in the DC, they decided to move back to Salt Lake City, Richard's hometown, to raise their family. They spent several years in the Federal Heights Ward before moving to Bountiful. But home to them became Canyon Road Towers where they spent more than 30 years and gained long lasting friendships with those who live there and in the ward.

The family grew to include 10 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren. LaVonne loved being a grandmother and always had a cookie ready and a cupboard full of board games for any little visitors who might come. While her grandchildren were young, she put on summer camps usually in Park City building family unity and a love for the Gospel. Knowing how important a good education is, she and Dad paid for their Salt Lake grandchildren to attend Carden Memorial School. As children, we put our parents through more than their fair share of not only mischief, but also trouble. Both graciously accepted the challenge and loved us unconditionally and never gave up on us.

A few of LaVonne's strengths were a listening ear, being a good friend and sister. She was always quick with some split pea soup and warm bread or cookies for those in need. She leaves many devoted friends who will miss her but has several dearly loved ones who welcomed her as she crossed the veil.

Most importantly, LaVonne had four big loves in her life. Jesus Christ, His gospel, her family, and music. She was one person who took all the talents given to her and magnified them many folds. Giving service willingly and without complaint. There is no doubt the Lord would have welcomed her with open arms saying: "Welcome home, thou good and faithful servant."

Our Mom and Dad went the extra mile when they Chose us and honored us every year with our own Chosen Day. It was our second birthday of the year, and they did this every year of our lives.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the BYU School of Music in her honor. To do so the following is provided:

1. Google - Donate to BYU

2. Look for Brigham Young University Philanthropies

3. Give to BYU (blue tab)

4. Enter gift amount in box labeled - BYU Scholarships

5. In the search bar below, enter BYU School of Music (ignore prompt which tells you there is no match)

6. Choose frequency

7. Method of Payment

8. Click on In memory/In honor of - type in LaVonne T. Van Orden

9. Follow additional prompts

We will hold a "Gathering" for family and friends on Wednesday, December 28, 2022 from 5-7pm at the Yale Ward located at 1431 E. Gilmer Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah. There will be a bite to eat provided and an open microphone for those of you willing to share thoughts or past memories of our Mom and Dad.