Terry Van Hansen passed away peacefully on May 31, 2021 after battling a long illness. He was 68 years old. Terry was the youngest child born to IvaDell Thompson and Clyde Van Hansen on January 14, 1953, in Price, Utah.
He graduated from Carbon High School and was accepted as a member of the Utah Pipe Trades where he became a journeyman pipefitter working many jobs around the state of Utah. He later retired from the Pipe Trades. He was an excellent welder as well as a master of many other trades. He always wanted to be an inventor. If something did not work quite the way he wanted, he would come up with an idea and then create a gadget that made it work “just-so.” And it usually worked a lot better after he was done “fixing” it. He was a talented leather man and enjoyed tooling beautiful leather pieces which he was proud to show off. Terry was an exceptional wood worker and built beautiful wooden furniture, shelving, and picture frames. He learned how to upholster furniture in his parents’ upholstery shop, and he was a skilled mechanic. There was literally nothing he could not do!
Not many people knew him well because he kept to himself. He did not have any children of his own but claimed his six nieces and nephews. He adored children and loved to show them cool tricks and give them nicknames.
Terry loved telling jokes and stories of his rodeo days, his favorite horses and hunting dogs, and how he put 99% of the nails in his house. Even though he was left handed, he was an accomplished tie down roper. For years, he and his father raised hound dogs. He loved telling the story about the time he helped Lucille Ball across the river as a boy. She and her husband were guided on a mountain lion hunting trip by his dad. He said it was his claim to fame. As he grew older, he bought a camera and decided he would rather track wildlife to take pictures of them.
He was a generous man and loved his family without measure. He would do anything to help anyone, and he was very appreciative of anything others did for him. It was an honor to have him call you a friend. His work and adventures took their toll on his body, and he was in pain for many years. We are so happy he is finally free of that pain, but he will be greatly missed.
Terry is survived by two sisters, Marie (Cy) Eardley and Claudia (Pierre) Moynier; niece, Joetta (Lex) Hadley; nephews, John (Tina) Moynier, Troy (Danette) Moynier, and Ryan (Kari) Moynier; 16 great-nieces and nephews; and many great-great-nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his mother and father; older brother, Clyde Joseph Hansen; nephew, Jim Bob Eardley; niece, Markette Eardley; and great-nephew, Jayke Hadley.
Our family would like to give a special thank you to Corey and Jill Hansen and Lynsie Grimes Pentico for taking such good care of Terry through the years and to Heirloom Inn Assisted Living, Symbii Hospice Care, and John and Tina for making him comfortable at the end.
A graveside service will be held on Friday, June 25, 2021,11:00 a.m. at the Price City Cemetery, 595 East 400 North, Price. Family and friends are invited to a luncheon after the service at Pioneer Park, 500 North Main Street, Price. Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home where friends are welcome to share memories online at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net