Born and raised on a sheep ranch in Idaho's colorful Teton Valley, Lincoln Marlow Hanks, who died on November 3, 2016 surrounded by his devoted family, cherished his rural beginnings. A son of David Capener Hanks and Emma Hulet, children of handcart and pioneering folk, and a grandson of the noted pioneer scout and frontiersman, Ephraim K. Hanks, he always spoke about his heritage with reverence. Even until his passing at 95 years, he treasured memories of his growing-up days beneath the Tetons.
After graduation from the Valley schools, where he was active in school affairs, his ranching years were interrupted by a mission call to Texas and Louisiana, which was followed immediately with service in the US Navy. In the Naval Medical Corps, he was stationed much of the time at the Great Lakes Naval Hospital, eventually heading the enlisted men's personnel office. At the conclusion of this service, nearly five years had passed since his mission call. The ranch ties now having been severed, he enrolled at the University of Utah, ultimately graduating with a master's degree in Industrial Relations.
Upon graduation, and after brief periods in teaching and business fields, he became Personnel Director of LDS Hospital and later Intermountain Health Care, where his service totaled more than 25 years. Upon retirement he continued his human resource activity in a consulting capacity with several Utah hospitals. He also devoted himself to a life-long interest in writing, authoring a number of books. He gave a lifetime of service to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including that of Bishop of the Ensign 5th Ward for eight years, Stake Mission President and as a member of the General Board of the MIA. For several years prior to his death, he devoted countless hours to family history indexing/arbitration, processing over 350,000 records. A crowning experience after retirement was serving a mission with his wife in the Durban, South Africa Mission.
He married Carolyn Stevens on April 13, 1951 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple, an event which he held as the most important of his life. He adored Carolyn and was devoted to her throughout their 65 year marriage. She provided tender loving care for him until his passing. Together, they raised six children: Diana (John Brown), James Briant (Leisa Brien), Rose Anne (David Angerbauer), Joseph Stevens (Jacqueline Crooks), Shannon Lynne (Michael Packer), and Nancy Kathleen (Matthew Dorny). Twenty-two grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren followed. His loving and faithful family was the treasure of his life. The Salt Lake hilltop home of more than fifty years, with its large back yard, was exceptionally special to him; he never lost his touch with the hoe and rake.
Survived by siblings David Hanks, Betty Misseldine, Louise Gohnert and Philip Hanks.
A viewing will be held on Friday, November 11, 2016 from 6:00 ‚ 8:00 p.m. at Larkin Mortuary located at 260 East South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2016 at 12:00 noon at the LDS Federal Heights Ward, 1300 East Fairfax Road, Salt Lake City, Utah and not at the Salt Lake Emigration Stake Center as previously announced. Family and friends may visit Saturday morning from 10:30 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. prior to the services at the church.
Burial will take place at the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
