Helen Hansen Obituary

1926 - 2014
Our loving and beautiful mother, Helen Dawn Andersen Hansen passed away peacefully on Aug. 16, 2014 at the Salt Lake Veterans Home at the age of 88 due to age-related causes.
Helen was born Feb. 26, 1926 in Provo, Utah to William and Edith Andersen. The family relocated to the Capitol Hill area in SLC, where, in the 4th grade, Helen met her future sweetheart, Bob Hansen. Despite this starry-eyed puppy love, her education did not stop there. She continued to excel at West High and graduated from the U. of Utah with a BA in French, the language which she dearly loved and retained in song and conversation until her last moments. Helen was a teaching assistant at the "U" while working on her Master's Degree. She has always valued education and was a life long learner, always eager to explore and learn new things.
During Bob's service in WWII, Helen supported the troops through her work at the Ogden Arsenal. In 1947 Helen and Bob were married in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Her children Lane, Mark and Paula soon followed--as well as successive French poodles. She especially loved her dogs and has never been without one of her loyal companions throughout her life.
After spending five years in Idaho due to Bob's job as a distributor for Phillips Petroleum, the family moved to SLC, eventually settling in the Indian Hills area on the East bench. Here, on Skyline Dr., Helen continued to raise her three children. Helen was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and has served in many callings. She especially enjoyed serving the youth as Young Women's President and Primary President, among other callings. Additionally, it was here in the Monument Park neighborhood that Helen cultivated deeply cherished friendships and her love of her exquisite garden and yard.
As her children became more independent, Helen and Bob--the latter now employed by TWA--began to enjoy many wonderful travel experiences throughout the world, with France being the favorite destination of Helen, bien sur!
One of Helen's many interests, oil painting, blossomed later in life; she was extremely gifted at rendering beautiful and inspiring Utah landscapes. Helen also had a profound love of nature, including animals, the sunshine, the ocean, sandy beaches and the beautiful Utah mountains, where she enjoyed spending time at her cabin.
Other pursuits included tennis, attending musicals, theater productions, and especially caring for her eight grandchildren, who along with her twenty great-grandchildren, were the true joys of her life (sorry, Utah Jazz).
Helen was famous for her very creative family parties, gifting enduring memories for all with her fantastic "theme" parties, most of which added an educational flavor.
Helen and Bob maintained a great interest in genealogy, Utah pioneer history and nurturing life-long friendships, especially those whose seeds sprouted at West High. Together, the couple spent a great deal of time and effort on an extraordinarily successful 50th year reunion.
As Helen would often say, "Je t'aime. Au revoir."
Helen is survived by R Lane Hansen, Mark Hansen (Debi), Paula Toronto (Russ), 8 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.
Funeral services to be held Friday, Aug. 22nd, 2014 at 2:00 pm at Larkin Sunset Lawn, 2350 East 1300 South. Family and friends may call one hour prior to services on Friday. Interment at the same location.
The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the LDS Branch Presidency at the Salt Lake Veterans Home, as well as the loving, caring staff that has taken such wonderful care of Helen for the past two years. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Utah Humane Society or the Perpetual Education Fund.