Eldon Grant Hanson

Eldon Grant Hanson , formerly of Las Cruces, New Mexico and St. George, Utah passed away on December 1, 2007, in Orem, Utah at the age of 94.
Eldon Hanson was born December 4, 1913 to Elnora Dahle Hanson and Clarence A. Hanson in Logan, Utah where he lived the first 28 years of his life. He graduated from Logan High School and from Utah Agricultural College, now known as Utah State University, in Civil Engineering in 1938. He then was employed as an Assistant City Engineer with the city of Logan, Utah.
In 1938, Eldon organized an eleven piece dance orchestra consisting of outstanding musicians he had known since high school. Eldon loved playing the piano and leading the orchestra. They played for all the university student body dances for three years from 1938 - 1941.
It was in Logan while at Utah State University that he met and married Katherine Nell MacKnight. They were married in the Logan Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on June 6, 1941.
In 1941, he was called to serve in the United States Army Air Corps, serving five years in Deming, New Mexico. During this time, he and Katherine (Tink) lived in Las Cruces, New Mexico. At the end of World War II, he was discharged from active duty and given the rank of Lt. Colonel in the Air Force Reserve. Following his discharge, he returned to Utah State University where he earned an MS Degree in Agricultural Engineering. He then returned to Las Cruces where he was employed by the Soil Conservation Service. Three years later, he received a position with New Mexico State University and was appointed as Head of the Agricultural Engineering Dept, serving for 29 years until his retirement in 1979. In 1978, he was recognized as Outstanding Professor in Engineering.
Eldon served for 10 years as the first branch president and then bishop of the Las Cruces Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. During this time, he oversaw the completion of the first chapel in Las Cruces.
He developed many close friends and fond memories while living in the Mesilla Valley for nearly 50 years. He became well known in the community for his unusual talent for playing the piano by ear, (particularly for the Lions Club and church functions), his continual service and his great sense of humor.
After retirement from New Mexico State University, rather than sit in his lounge chair for the rest of his life, he contracted with Colorado State University for employment in Cairo, Egypt. He and Katherine lived there for 3 ½ wonderful years while working on irrigation solutions with the Egyptian government. While in Egypt, he and Tink traveled throughout the world to places such as Russia, Kenya, and Europe. After returning to the United States, they served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Dallas / Ft. Worth Mission.
In 1990, Eldon and Tink left their beloved Mesilla Valley, dear friends, and favorite restaurant La Posta, and moved to St. George, Utah to be closer to their family. While in St. George, they made numerous new friends as well as renewing old ones and enjoyed the red rock scenery.
At the age of 91, he and Tink moved to the Summerfield Retirement Community in Orem, Utah where he lived until his passing on. He is survived by his wife, Katherine, two daughters Kathy (Cris) Hepburn of Yucaipa, California, Helen (Jim) Gebhard of Grand Junction, Colorado, and three sons Blaine (Marlene) Hanson of Dixon, California, Grant (Carol) Hanson of Woodland Hills, Utah, and Joseph (Lisa) Hanson of Orem, Utah. They have 21 grandchildren and 7 great grand children
Many thanks to all who rendered service to him, especially to caregivers Dorothy DuJardin and Roger, Merrilee, Eliza, and Jake Hiatt. The viewing will be at 10 am and the funeral service at 11 am on December 7, 2007 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints chapel at the corner of 900 W 1000 N, Orem, Utah. The interment will follow at the Orem City Cemetery. Online condolences may be given at www.serenicare.com.