Dr. Steven Charles Hansen

Dr. Steven Charles Hansen was born on May 21, 1937, to Harold Leroy and Bertha (Agren) Hansen. Steve grew up riding tractors on a farm in Iona, Idaho. While his three brothers grew into teenagers and chose to seek out paid employment, Steve chose to stay home and work for his dad because he knew his dad needed the help. That was just the kind of man that he was. Once they were finished with their work, he and his dad loved heading out to the lake to do some fishing.

After graduating high school, Steve attended Ricks College for two years before deciding to postpone his education to serve a two-and-a-half-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Called to serve in Sweden, he had to quickly learn the language so he could communicate with the people and teach them about the gospel that he dearly loved. His love of Sweden lasted for the rest of his life, and Steve was excited when an Ikea was built close to his home in Utah so he could have unlimited access to Swedish meatballs and lingonberry everything!

Upon returning from his mission, Steve attended Utah State University and developed a love for rocks that lead him to graduate with a BS in Geology. Knowing that he would need an advanced degree to pursue his passion, he attended Oregon State University and later transferred back to Utah State University where he completed his MS degree. With his degrees, he went on to teach at Bonneville High School and Ricks College (now known as BYU-Idaho). He loved his students dearly and they looked up to him as an excellent teacher. During his time at Ricks College, Steve was able to travel on many memorable excursions with the Geology Department. Anyone who knew Steve knew about his large, and ever-growing rock collection.

While attending Oregon State University, Steve met his first wife, Patricia Ann David. Together they had three children - David, Mark, and Kristen. They decided they wanted to add another daughter to their family, so they adopted a 6-year-old girl from Korea named Kimber. Pat and Steve’s marriage eventually came to an end and Steve met the love of his life the following year. Sharon Jean Allen worked in the Education Department at Ricks College and had four children who were about the same ages as Steve’s. They fell in love quickly and married in June of 1993.

When asked about her relationship with Steve, Sharon said, “I never knew marriage could be so good.” Today Steve and Sharon share 8 children, 27 grandchildren, and 11 greats and counting!

In the last few years of his life, Steve dealt with the quick onset of dementia and all the difficulties that surround such a diagnosis. In the end, he found it difficult to carry on conversations and many other things that brought him so much joy in life. Steve loved to sit and talk with everyone, especially his family and others who were closest to him. If you ever wanted to catch a gleam in his eye, all you had to do was ask him about America, travelling, his four missions (three of which he served later in life with his wife, Sharon) the gospel, rocks, potatoes, cheese, or pistachios. In fact, in one of the final conversations he had with some of his grandchildren, they were discussing his love of cheese and potatoes when Steve piped up and said, “Stop it, you’re making me hungry!”

We wish we could list all of Steve’s incredible attributes and contributions to our lives in the words on this page, but this brief summary of his life will have to suffice, otherwise you would be reading a novel. He was an incredible man. We will miss him dearly. Whenever you hike a mountain or volcano, gaze at a unique rock formation, or pick up a rock on the side of the road, think of him. We are sure that he will be thinking of you.

Survived by his wife, Sharon Jean Allen Hansen, his children: David (Linda), Mark, Kristen Hawkins (Jeff), Kimber Frifeldt, Michael Richards (Rebecca), Staci Moore (Larry), Jason Richards (Alicia), Dustin Richards (Darci), 27 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, his brother Lynn, and his puppy pal Bailey.

Preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Harold and Charles, his granddaughter Marissa Hansen, and his dogs Bernie and Gracie.

Funeral services will be under the direction of Larkin Mortuary in Riverton. Services will be held on Monday, July 31, 2023, at 12:00 noon and viewing will be held Sunday, July 30, 2023, 6:00-8:00 PM and Monday, 10:30-11:30 AM at the chapel at 11685 South Kestrel Rise Road, South Jordan, UT 84009.