Anne Jelte Hanks

Anna Mae (Anne) Jelte Hanks was born May 8,1931 at Holy Cross Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Harlow Edward Jelte and Esther Maria Olson Jelte.

Anne was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on August 26,1939 and confirmed on September 3,1939. Anne married Russell Howard Hanks in the Salt Lake City Temple on September 11,1953.

Our mother was raised with strong values of faith, kindness, hard work, and a deep love for family principles that guided her throughout her life. Her Swedish heritage and unwavering devotion helped shaped the compassionate, gracious woman she became.

Mom found great joy in being a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her home was a place of comfort where family gathered, and traditions were created, and everyone was welcomed with love. She had a remarkable gift for making people feel valued and cared for through her gentle spirit, listening ear, and generous heart.

Anne is survived by her children, David Howard Hanks, Kathy Hanks Polumbo, Paul Edward Hanks, and Pamela Hanks McClure, with her oldest child, Kurt Russell Hanks, having preceded her in death. She is also survived by her cherished grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, and friends whose lives are forever blessed by knowing her.

But long before she became the mother we knew and loved, she was already determined to make her own mark. Our mom knew she wanted to change her name in the 6th grade. By this time, she had gone to several movies where the maid's name was Anna, and this bothered her enough that she mentioned her feelings about her name to her sister Bettie. Upon entering Irving Jr. High School, Bettie thought it was the perfect time to let her teachers and friends know she would like to be known as Anne, and by changing the “a” to an “e” to give her the perfect English spelling of Anne.

When Grandma was born her Aunt Astrid Roed gave her a nickname Doka, which was Swedish for doll. She was known to her favorite Aunt Astrid as Doka throughout her lifetime and since Astrid had no children of her own, this name became a wonderful bond between them.

She was raised with strong values of faith, kindness, hard work, and love for family-principles that guided her throughout her life. Her Swedish heritage and deep devotion to her faith shaped the compassionate woman she became.

Her Swedish heritage was a source of pride throughout her lifetime. On the introductory page of her life history, Mom wrote, ”The homeland of my ancestors is known as the Land of the Midnight Sun.” This beautiful country is Sweden. Two other countries border this land-Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the northeast. The Baltic and North seas wash on its shores. This land has centuries-old castles, modern cities and farms that are all well cared for adding to the naturally beautiful landscape of islands, rivers, lakes and forests. It is the largest, richest, and most beautiful Scandinavian country.

In the mid-1800s, my maternal grandparents (in Central Sweden), and my paternal grandparents (in Southern Sweden), listened to Mormon missionaries declare the news of another sacred book brought forth as a second witness of Jesus Christ. This ancient record, The Book of Mormon, told of His visit to the Americas after His resurrection, and is a history of the people on this continent around that time (600 B.C. to 421 A.D.). In addition to the Bible, my ancestors believed this book to be true and were baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For believing, their trials were many, and they soon left homes, families and friends to settle in America, especially Utah, to follow their new faith. Because of my grandparents' immigration, enabled me to live in this great country of America. I will always regard this as a special blessing coming from their hardships and strong beliefs.

Generations later, those same values of faith, resilience, and devotion to family continued through our mother's life. Anne was one of several children.

Her siblings are Joan Esther Jelte who died at age three. Harlow Edward (Bud) Jelte, Jr, the oldest sibling she remembers. He was handsome and was six feet two inches tall. Had beautiful blond hair and a mischievous smile. He was an artist, worked at a gas station while attending West High School. He would bring his mother gifts regularly, one being a very welcome electric iron. My favorite was a crystal basket filled with violets to give her on Mother's Day. Next came Lewellen Marie (Ellie) Jelte Pugmire who was ten years older than Anne. Ellie was a secretary at O.C. Tanner here in SLC and was notably a secretary for Howard Hughes, among others. Next came John Albert (Jack) Jelte. Jack was fun-loving and had a great personality. Jack and Bettie were very close, as grandma was too young to join in. Jack and Bettie would play basketball, have water fights, go sleigh riding, build snowmen, forts and had many snowball fights. Jack later went on a mission to Sweden and when he returned joined the Army Reserves where he was an instructor for the Military Intelligence Training School at Fort Ord, California. He was a Lieutenant Colonel after 42yrs. of service. He was also a schoolteacher at Davis School District for 23 yrs. Then came Bettie Jane Jelte Merrill. She was three and a half years older. She was an exceptional student. She played the violin and was the youngest member of the Utah Symphony at age 14. Everything Bettie painted was beautiful. She wrote and directed plays for the neighborhood and later directed many productions for the city of Arizona. She wrote beautiful poetry and taught many Sunday School classes at a very young age. She taught grandma and her friends about birds along with beautiful colored pictures in a summer class as they sat on a blanket on the front lawn. Next, they advanced to Crows...can you guess how many different kinds of crows there are?

Within the Jelte family, there was a theme of name changes. Anna to Anne, Harlow to Bud, Lewellen to Ellie, and John to Jack.

Mom quoted in her life history book, “With a name like Jelte, my siblings' teachers remembered them, even until I graduated from South High. They were such excellent students, winning awards along the way. I was always proud to be their sister”

In school, grandma had contests in sports. She ran races, jumped the rope, play-offs in hopscotch using a puck using a rubber heel from an old pair of shoes. She played marbles and softball. She says she was the best in races and hopscotch.

Mom/grandma would walk a mile to Irving Jr. High School and back, whether rain, snow or shine. When the weather was good, her friends and she would cut through a natural park and even jump over the stream that ran through it. This was located just west of Sugar House Park, a block from Irvine Jr. High. In 1951, the Utah State Prison was demolished, and is now Sugar House Park. The state prison, as you know, was relocated to the point of the mountain.

Grandma’s first part-time job was at the Pediatric Ward at Salt Lake County Hospital. Her mother Esther, was an inspiration to her and wanted to become a nurse just like her. She soon learned that her immune system was not conducive to a career in nursing.

She had four best friends who had so much fun together. Marilyn Hansen (her oldest and best friend), Jerry Eccles, Carol Christenson, and Ardith Sheffield. They would go to Brighton and ride horses, hike trails, sing popular songs, go to the movies or youth church activities.

Mom’s career resume was incredible. She worked at the State Capital at age 16. Grandma learned shorthand which served her well throughout her employment. She attended classes twice weekly to brush up on the latest technology. While at the Stake Capital she saved enough money for one year of college and enrolled at BYU in the fall of 1952. Enrollment for the year was 7,000 at that time. She loved BYU, as she was involved with the Cesta Tie Social Unit, a group of talented musicians, artists, and dancers. She was asked to help design the Homecoming Parade float. She later took a secretarial position with Kennecott Copper Corporation, where she later retired after 39 years.

At age 57 mom went back to school and attended the Salt Lake Community College. They offered an experiential program called Back-to-Work. She had worked at Granny’s Attic for five years, and after the business was sold, she needed a refresher course to return to office work. The course consisted of seven classes, including typing, computer skills with Lotus and Word Perfect, English, bookkeeping, electronic typing, 10-key and labs. She was to complete this one-year course in one quarter. It was so difficult that one-third dropped out. Grandma was the oldest by 20yrs. And really felt the pressure to graduate. This program, although very difficult and challenging, came at a perfect time in her life, and she was deeply grateful for it. After graduating, she found a position at the University of Utah of Pharmacy in the Deans Office. She retired five years later after transferring to the Pharmacy Doctorate Program in the Pharmacy Practice Department, in which she has very fond memories of her time there.

Grandmas’ s early childhood home was described as very small, with two bedrooms on the main floor and a room in the basement for her brothers. There were nine people living in this little home. The land around her home had large fields of tall grass and wildflowers where she played. The violets and pink flowers are her favorite.

Growing up, our mother loved entertaining people for many occasions in our home as grandma’s mother did. Me and my siblings had many friends, family, and loved ones at our home. Mom would cook (as you all know, she is the best cook ever!) She would decorate the tables, and we always had a sit-down dinner with dessert. We have fond memories and loved all the parties! When grandma was young, her and her sisters would set a perfect table with candles, flowers, china, crystal, etc. She would wear a special half-apron to serve in. They had a swinging door between the dining room and kitchen so her and her sisters could easily carry things back and forth, and peek to see when her mother was ready for them. On one occasion her friend, Marilyn Hansen Lee filled in for Bettie to serve with her. She didn’t last long however as she started laughing and could not stop when she heard them speak Swedish.

Grandma loved music, art, and entertainment. As early as she can remember, music was important in her childhood home. Memories of gathering around the piano while Ellie played, her mother Esther would sing. Bettie played the violin, sometimes Jack the clarinet and grandma would simply sing along. Grandma took piano lessons as a teenager, and later also played the organ for relaxation. Grandma’s mother had a Swedish ukulele that your grandma would strum in bed for hours while recovering from one illness or another.

Music was equally important in our home. Each of us remembers choosing an instrument to play. We had piano lessons after school and a whole room dedicated to music. Our music room had a piano, turntable with many hip records. Our dad had long wired speakers that ran the length of the hallway to our bedrooms and put the speakers under our pillows at night so we could listen to an album like the Beatles to fall asleep by. Grandma quotes in her book, “Please choose good music, it will uplift you and you will feel joy. Beautiful music can bring families and friends closer and will define those you want to be with.” end quote.

Grandma loved dances, movies (Ben-Hur is her favorite), football games, and movies. Dating as a Freshman at BYU was different than dating during the four years after high school due to most boys being four years younger. One of her best friends, Marilyn wanted her to meet her date’s best friend, Russell Hanks. They met at the campus tennis courts and had a great time and later were married by one of mom’s favorite church leaders, Elder LeGrand Richards, an Apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They were married on September 11, 1953, in the Salt Lake Temple.

One of Mom’s favorite memories and traditions was Thanksgiving. Who doesn’t love Thanksgiving! The idea of coming together once a year with all our family to enjoy the best food, conversations, taking photos, and playing Bingo where everyone can take home a gift, is perfect, and mom/grandma made this our ongoing tradition. This is her favorite holiday that she loves. Memories of preparing the turkey and breaking the bread for the dressing the night before. Mom also loved making pies, that is until she made her famous lemon pie that we couldn’t eat-not even the dog would eat it. After this she limited her pies to pumpkin, mincemeat (Dora’s favorite) and banana cream. When the family was home,she would make eight or more pies. She always took the day before off to prepare for Thanksgiving. We enjoyed an early dinner, followed by Bingo, then more turkey, usually sandwiches, pie, and great grandma Jelte’s famous eggnog in a crystal punch bowl. It is a day of eating and playing and enjoying one another's company. Grandma's favorite holiday!

When she was a little girl, Christmas was exciting. Her mother Esther would make fruit cakes, yummy, sweet breads, and carrot pudding with brandy sauce. Her dad would make toys out of wood. Before opening gifts early Christmas morning at 4:00am while still very dark and cold, she and her siblings would go to Yuleuta LDS Church services where they were all in Swedish. She enjoyed the St. Lucia, the light queen, in their white dresses and crowns with candles on their head. While a little girl, grandma’s mother had decorated their tree like every year before with traditional Christmas candles sitting on the life tree branches. Harlow was in the garage making things from wood, and Esther went out to talk to him for a few minutes. Upon arriving back at the house, the tree was engulfed in flames. Esther opened the front door, picked up the tree, and threw it out into the snow. The neighbors got a kick out of seeing this play out.

Our fond memories of our childhood Christmases were at the Fort Douglas Club, where we enjoyed an abundance of food, sodas, and ice cream sandwiches for dessert. Santa would land in a helicopter and after dinner we would line up to sit on Santa’s lap in this oversized red velvet chair to let him know our wish list.

Christmas traditions for us were putting up the Christmas lights, going for rides to see the neighborhood and downtown lights. On Christmas Eve we would always open one gift from under the tree, usually pajamas. The first thing we did on Christmas mornings was to eat a special breakfast before seeing what Santa brought. We would Another opening one gift at a time to see what each person got. Then grandma and grandpa Hanks would visit and bring us more gifts and then we would go see our grandma and grandpa Jelte for special Christmas treats. Throughout the years our family parties, not one the same, are something to look forward to, and have kept the family together.

Favorite things: favorite movie is Ben-Hur, liked sewing, but not for herself. She made Grandpa Hanks Christmas pajamas, the brighter the better he said. Liked to crochet shawls, and made one for Grandma Jelte. She regrets not having time for sewing for us kids but did make our Halloween costumes and would mend our clothes. As kids, our mom, your grandma would have the most incredible summer parties that always included her famous seedless watermelon.

Mom will be remembered for the love she shared, the traditions she created, and the joy she brought to every gathering. Her legacy lives in each of us-in the memory we cherish, the values she instilled, and the love that will continue to unite our family for generations to come.

Services will be held on July 14th at noon at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 E Dimple Dell Road, Sandy, Utah 84093, with a viewing at 10am.

Anne will be buried at Sandy City Cemetery, 700 E 9000 S, Sandy, Utah 84070.

For those that would like to attend online, please click "watch services".