Keith D. Hansen

Keith D Hansen, 88, passed away on Feb. 24, 2019 at Maple Springs in North Logan surrounded by his family and was welcomed home by his parents Floyd D. and Meda Staley Hansen and his sister Clara and brother Brent.
He was born on April 17, 1930 in Whitney, ID. He was raised in Logan and spent summers working on his grandparent’s farm in Mink Creek, ID. He was too smart for his own good and tested out of the 1st Grade and was moved ahead one year in school. His father started the Cache County Airport and Keith spent many hours cleaning and fixing airplanes and he earned his wings (pilot's license and Eagle Scout badge) at the early age of 14. He and his father flew their planes in aero acrobatic shows together for many years.
He played the trumpet in the band where he met his high school sweetheart, VerNae Cragun. They enjoyed ice skating together at the Central Park Ice Rink and Keith peddled her on his bike for 12 miles to and from their houses to the park. Keith later upgraded to a red Cushman scooter and they became known as the scooter couple. She waited for him while he served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Central Atlantic States from 1949-1951 where sang and toured with the Centennial Chorus. They were sealed for time and all eternity on August 20, 1951 in the Logan LDS Temple six weeks after his return. Two weeks after they were married, Keith was drafted into the US Army - beginning at Fort Lewis, WA and was later transferred to Camp Gordon in Augusta, GA. VerNae joined him there and they later welcomed their first child Susan in Nov. 1952.
While serving in the Army during the Korean War, Keith was trained in Cryptography and was one of four soldiers who had the highest level of security clearance in coding communications for President Eisenhower. Upon completion of his service, they returned to Logan, UT and he continued his education at Utah State University earning his degree in Education and later an MBA. While working in the controller’s office at USU, he introduced the first computer to the office. He was then hired as the Business Administrator for the Cache County School District and worked in that position for 31 years. They welcomed 6 more children, Craig, Donna, Dale, Nancy, Bryan and Shari and raised their family in Logan until they moved to North Logan in 1967 to accommodate their growing family.
The family cherishes many memories of hunting, fishing, waterskiing, flying in Dad’s plane and camping together throughout the years. Keith and VerNae enjoyed spending Summer breaks from the temple golfing and RV-ing at Star Valley Ranch. He sang with the Imperial Glee Club for 12 years and helped with search and rescue as a certified scuba diver. He served for over 20 years as a Priest Quorum Advisor, where he was known for dropping ice cream from his plane to church youth groups during their summer camps and teaching the youth to water-ski.
He later served as a counselor in the Bishopric, a Bishop, on the High Council, Stake Mission President, Executive Secretary to Regional Representative, Counselor in the YSA Stake Presidency, and branch mission leader at Pioneer Valley Lodge. After he retired in 1991, Keith and VerNae spent the summer driving their 5th wheel trailer on the Yukon Highway to Alaska where they caught and brought home enough salmon and halibut to feed the whole family. Upon their return, they were called to serve in the Sofia, Bulgaria mission where Keith served as the 1st Counselor in the Mission Presidency. Returning home, they served in the temple together where he served as a sealer.
Keith is survived by his loving wife VerNae, a sister Dorene (Norman) Squires, a sister-in-law Sharlene Hansen and 7 children Susan (Reed) McGregor, Craig (Heidi) Hansen, Donna (Doug) Brady, Dale (Debbie) Hansen, Nancy (Val) Potter, Bryan (Stephanie) Hansen, Shari (Jim) Hall, 29 grandchildren and 43 great grandchildren.
We express appreciation to the caring staff at Maple Springs of North Logan and the wonderful care received from Dr. Brad M. Goates over the years. We are also grateful for the hospice care of Encompass Health and Dr. Kevin R. Duke.
Funeral services will be held at noon on Saturday, March 2, 2019 in the North Logan Ward Chapel, located at 1550 East 1900 North in North Logan. A viewing will be held on Friday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 East Center in Logan, and prior to the services on Saturday at the church from 10:30 to 11:30. Burial will be in the North Logan Memorial Cemetery. Condolences may be shared at www.allenmortuaries.com .