Grandpa Hanson's Funeral

My Grandpa Hanson passed away a few weeks ago, so last weekend I was in UT for his funeral. I was a little bit weepy during the service, but they were sad/happy tears. I know he has missed my Grandma so much since she passed away about a year ago, and I'm happy to know that they are together again. His funeral was really touching. The bishop and my Uncle Gary both shared stories about Grandpa that were funny, tender and heartwarming. From his road trip to Detroit to buy a new car, to stories of him getting thrown into jail on his mission to Germany, to a life-changing experience in the Logan tabernacle as a boy, my Grandpa was a good, good man. I feel so blessed to have known and loved him. And I know because of his testimony of the gospel and his quiet faith, I have a spiritual heritage that I will forever be grateful for.

Because he was a veteran of World War II, he had military honors at the funeral as well. I haven't ever witnessed that in person. It was really amazing--patriotic, and comforting, and humbling. The American Legion gave Uncle Gary an American flag, presented a 21 gun salute, and played "Taps."

As they seem to do, the funeral brought us together as a family, and I was grateful for the chance to see my Hanson cousins and my sister Ashley's family. More photos of the funeral are here.

Some of my favorite Grandpa Hanson memories:

• fishing in Colorado (ok, so I hated the fishing part because I was never any good at it, but I sure loved being with Grandpa)
• making a snow slide/bobsled track from the house down into the valley
• going on walks in the evenings up in the mountains
• watching Jeopardy with him (he always knew all the answers)
• watching him work in his garden