Logan Herald Journal, 05/30/09


NORTH LOGAN, Utah - Owen Lavor Andreasen, age 101, passed away May 27, 2009, at the home of his daughter, Sherell, in LOGAN, Utah. He has left behind a legacy of love for his family and will be greatly missed. Owen was born May 21, 1908, in a small, one-room home in Cleveland, Idaho, to Roy C. and Lula Andreasen. He was the oldest of eight children. His first eight years of schooling were spent at the one-room Wilson School on Rose Hill in Cleveland, Idaho. He attended high school at Thatcher, Idaho, and drove the school bus his senior year. He attended Southern Branch Idaho State University in Pocatello before his mission to the British Isles in 1929. He married Jessie Turner of Grace, Idaho, on May 22, 1935, in the LOGAN LDS Temple. They resided in Cleveland after their marriage where Owen farmed. They loved the beautiful Gentile Valley and wonderful people there. Here they raised their four children: Val Gene, Jay Lavor, Sherell Ann and Susan Janene. Owen held many responsibilities as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including bishop of the Cleveland Ward. In his later life, he served as an ordinance worker at the LOGAN LDS Temple, officiating in the baptistery for 20 years and serving as a patron several times a week. Owen and Jessie loved to visit Mesa, Ariz., and they spent several of their winters there, where he found work until returning to Cleveland in the spring to begin farming. He was a hard worker, honest and generous with all of his associates. In 1976 he and Jessie sold their farm and retired to LOGAN, Utah; they enjoyed so much their new neighbors and friends there. Anyone acquainted with Owen knew that he was an avid fly fisherman. He made many friends with fishermen, ranchers, store owners and other tourists as they traveled about, stopping to fish when possible. Many of his children and grandchildren have fond memories of fishing with their Grandpa Andreasen. He was also a devoted Aggie basketball fan and attended home games up until November of last year. He was honored twice at the Aggie games for being their oldest fan. His wife, Jessie, passed away Oct. 18, 1987, after which he spent his time doing temple work, traveling to see family and caring for his beautiful yard in LOGAN. He married Vera Young on June 10, 1989, and added three more families to his own. Vera's children, Joyce (Dean) Adams, Jean (Lee) Bowman and Betty (Owen) Ashbaker have blessed his life as well. Since their marriage, Owen and Vera have enjoyed a wonderful companionship, traveling together, working in the temple, caring for their home and yard and following Aggie basketball and Atlanta Braves baseball. Owen continued to keep his sense of humor and quick wit and has left a long line of progenitors: 24 grandchildren, 80 great-grandchildren and 17 great-great-grandchildren. He was an inspiration to all who knew him. As a family we wish to express gratitude to IHC Hospice for their countless hours of service to Dad. Their love and kindness extended way beyond normal expectations. He is survived by his wife, Vera, of Logan; a son Val (Janice) Andreasen of Logan; two daughters, Sherell (Larry) Raymond of LOGAN, and Janene (Robert) Marcum of Rexburg, Idaho; two sisters, Voloy (Phillip) Sonntag of Salt Lake, and DeVone (Reid - deceased) Hoggan of Smithfield; two brothers, Dee (Etheleen - deceased) Andreasen of Cleveland, and Max (Mardene – deceased and Pat) Andreasen of Preston. He is also survived by Vera's children: Joyce (Dean) Adams of Reno; Jean (Lee) Bowman of Kennewick, Wash.; and Betty (Owen) Ashbaker of Ogden. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jessie; a son, Jay; his parents, Roy and Lula Andreasen; and three siblings: Theo, Ruby (George) Jenkins and Maynard (Janice) Andreasen. Services will be held Monday, June 1, at 11 a.m. at the Lundstrom Park LDS Chapel, 1260 N. 1600 E. The family will greet friends Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Allen Mortuary of North LOGAN , 420 E. 1800 N. and at the church Monday from 9:30 until 10:45 a.m. prior to services. Interment will be at the Preston Cemetery following the services. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.allenmortuaries.net.
Published in LOGAN Herald Journal from 5/30 to 6/13/2009