Lawrence (Laurie) Rhodes Hansen, 62, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and sincere friend to all his family as well as friends and strangers, passed away April 4, 2017 after a long and courageous battle with heart disease.
Lawrence was born May 28, 1954 in Salt Lake City to Lawrence Lee Hansen and Edna Louise "Miki" Thomas Hansen. He graduated from West High School, Snow College, and Weber State University. He married Helynne (Lynne) Hollstein in the Salt Lake Temple June 22, 1979. One of the greatest joys of his life was serving in the Italy South LDS Mission 1973-75. He retained his love of the Italian people, language and culture as well as his missionary spirit throughout his life. He also had a love of family genealogy and history and was particularly proud of the life accomplishments and example of his maternal grandfather Senator Elbert D. Thomas.
He was an enthusiastic scholar of LDS history and could spend many hours in libraries researching and sharing his findings with family members. Lawrence was a music lover with an encyclopedic knowledge of classical music and opera. Another highlight of his life was singing in the chorus of the Utah Opera Company in more than 20 different opera productions, and participating in community and university choirs, theater productions, and opera choruses in Gunnison County, Colorado where he lived for 25 years. He was also an avid sports fan and loved the Utah Jazz as well as soccer, baseball, hockey, and professional wrestling.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Thomas (Bonnie) Hansen and sisters Peggy (Richard) Sherlock and Chiyo Hansen. He is survived by his wife of Salt Lake City; son, Capt. Joseph Spencer (Charlotte) Hansen, USAF, Washington D.C., daughter Mary (Jesse) Booth, Centerville, UT; grandchildren Dorothy, Elliot, Ruby, and Lena Hansen, Washington D.C.; Jordan and Madeleine Booth, Centerville, Utah; brothers Philip (Barbara) Hansen, Brian Hansen, Paul Hansen, all of Salt Lake City; sister Christine (Randy) Thurber, Salt Lake City; his mother-in-law Shirley Hollstein, Salt Lake City; brother-in-law Mark (Yoshiko) Hollstein, Kyoto, Japan; and numerous nieces and nephews who adored their Uncle Laurie.
Funeral service will beMon., April 10at the Crestview LDS Ward, 2795 Crestview Drive, Salt Lake City, atnoon. Friends may call at Larkin Sunset Lawn Mortuary, 2350 E. 1300 S.,Sun., April 9, from6-8 p.m., andMondayat the churchfrom 10:45-11:45 a.m.
