Theresa M Ekins

Theresa Marguerite Clement Hansen Ekins passed away peacefully at home the evening of June 10, 2025. She was born on November 10, 1924, in Memphis, Tennessee to Albert Pike Clement and Mary Theresa Enderlin, the middle of five daughters.

Theresa lived a life full of faith, love, and dedication to God and her family. Her family constantly grew as she had a remarkable ability to turn everyone she met into a friend or part of her family. Her presence always brought light to any room, and she was constantly engaged in serving others.

She met her husband, Boyd Curtis Hansen, at a USO dance in Memphis, and they married on April 8, 1944, at the Presbyterian church near her home. Later, they were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple in 1946 for time and all eternity. They had four children and raised their family in Memphis, Tennessee, and Westminster, Stanton, and Garden Grove, California. After nineteen years of marriage, Boyd passed away unexpectedly, and Theresa worked diligently to raise their four children alone. She relocated to Pleasant Grove, Utah, in 1968, and married A. Ray Ekins in 1975 cherishing their time together until his passing in 1979. She often remarked that she had been blessed with two good husbands and did not want to risk a third.

Theresa held secretarial positions at several companies, including Hunt’s Foods and Meadow Gold Dairy, and eventually retired from Deseret Book.

In the mid-1980s, she sold her home in Pleasant Grove and moved to Layton, Utah, eventually purchasing a home there. She enjoyed tending to her yard and garden, often fixing sprinkler heads and mowing the lawn into her 90s. As a true Southern lady, she canned the fruits of her labor and taught younger generations to do the same.

As a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, she served with unwavering commitment. Her dedication to temple service and family history work inspired her children to do the same.

Theresa took great pride in her children, grandchildren, and their accomplishments, often expressing enthusiasm and joy during their conversations.

She was preceded in death by her parents, three sisters, husbands Boyd and Ray, her son James, and son-in-law Allen. She is survived by her children Janis Rupp, Milton (Nola) Hansen, Susan LaVonne Meyer, daughter-in-law Mickey Hansen, 26 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, and 4 – soon to be 5 – great-great-grandchildren, as well as her sister Julia Cook, and many nieces and nephews. Additionally, she leaves behind countless numbers who lovingly called her mom, Grandma, or Gram.

The family wishes to express thanks to Visiting Angels, her hospices nurses, and long-time doctor and nurses who cared for her with love and compassion. In lieu of flowers, please consider a charitable donation to Humanitarian Services, or a charity of your choice in her name.

A viewing will held Friday, June 13, 2025, from 6:00–8:00 p.m. at Russon Mortuary 1585 West 300 S. Syracuse, UT, and again on Saturday morning, June 14, 2025, from 9:30–10:30 a.m., before the funeral services. Funeral services will be held at the same location on Saturday at 11:00 a.m., followed by interment at Syracuse City Cemetery. Services will be live streamed and the link will be available here shortly before service begin.