Keith B Hanson obituary

Keith B Hanson, age 93 of Shelley Idaho, passed away peacefully at the home of his son LaMont Hanson in Idaho Falls on February 28, 2021 surrounded by members of his family. He was born in Shelley Idaho on October 13, 1927 to Melvin Hanson and Lillian Mathilda (Beckstrand) Hanson.

Keith grew up in Shelley, where he attended and graduated from Shelley schools. In 1948 Keith left Shelley to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the country of Sweden. After he returned to Shelley from his mission, he noticed a beautiful young schoolteacher from Carey Idaho named Reva Patterson. They immediately hit it off and started dating. They met in August of 1951, were engaged December 1st, and they were married in the Idaho Falls temple on a cold blizzardly day on December 19, 1951. Their earthly marriage lasted for 67 years. They lived most of their married lives in the Shelley area.

The courtship was short because Keith had been drafted into the Army and was to report for duty soon after their marriage. He served in the Military Intelligence Division of the Army during the Korean War and earned the rank of Sergeant.

Keith worked at many different occupations during his life. He was a door-to-door salesman, a produce worker, a school bus driver, and a construction truck driver. He worked at the Atomic Energy Commission lab, now known as the INL site, and started his own backhoe company in 1956. It was as a backhoe operator that he made his living for the large family that was to come. He retired in 1993 and was able to travel and spend his retirement years with his wife, family, friends and relatives.

He was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He willingly served in many positions in the church, including Young Men President, High Council, High Priest Group leader, temple ordinance worker, served in several bishoprics. Perhaps his favorite calling was as a Young Women Camp priesthood advisor/tormentor. He and Reva also served three missions as a senior couple.

Words cannot express how much his family meant to him. Not only were his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren important, but he loved extended family as well. Sunday nights at grandpa and grandma’s meant popcorn, family movies, and games. Those times will be cherished.

Keith is survived by his children; David (Connie), LaMont (Diane), Barry (Rhonda), Kurt (Mary), Colleen (Mark) Branson, John (Laura), Kristine (Rodney) Smith, Clint (Natalie), Bryce (Jamie), and Reed (Melanie), 57 grandchildren, 111 great-grandchildren and two sisters; Pearl Johnson and Alva Lu Hebdon. He was preceded in death by his loving wife Reva Ethel Patterson Hanson, his parents, eight siblings, Greg Hanson, a grandson, Stockton Hansen, a grandson-in-law, and Craig Bohman, a son-in-law.

The family would like to thank Dr. Brad Erikson, The Gables Assisted Living, Nalder Funeral Home, and Nuclear Care Partners for the exceptional care that they provided. The family would especially like to thank LaMont and Diane, his son and daughter-in-law, for housing and taking care of Keith over the past eight months.

Funeral services will be held for Keith at 1:00 PM on Saturday March 6, 2021 at the Woodville 2nd Ward (1555 N 700 East, Shelley Idaho). Because of COVID-19 restrictions, the in-person funeral will be limited to family. Family attending the funeral will be required to wear masks. See information below for links for participating in the funeral online.

Friends may visit with family at a viewing on Friday evening March 5th from 6:00 to 7:30 PM, at Nalder Funeral Home (110 West Oak, Shelley). No viewing will be held before the funeral on Saturday because of COVID-19 restrictions. Burial will be in the Shelley Hillcrest Cemetery.

For those unable to attend but who wish to participate in the funeral online, please use this link on the day and at the time of the funeral: https://sites.google.com/view/shelleystake/sacrament. Click on the Woodville Building link no more than 5 minutes before the funeral starts. As an option, you can also use one of these links: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxdeJYiOmVl1nbTpUH7nogg/videos, or for mobile devices use this link: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCxdeJYiOmVl1nbTpUH7nogg/videos.