Wanabelle (Wannie) Hastings Iverson

On a cloudy, cool December afternoon, Wanabelle  (Wannie) Hastings Iverson, 92 years young,  left her earthly home and was reunited with the love of her life, Donald.  Wannie passed away quietly at the home of her daughter, Debra and son-in-law Les Ashby on December 1, 2016.  Mom was born September 5, 1924 in Butler, Oklahoma, the daughter of Joel Henry and Alvaretta Marie Haynes Hastings. The family moved to Norman, Oklahoma when mom was about 5 years old. Her family ran a laundry business out of their home and rented rooms to students from Oklahoma University. They had a lot of family come and go when they needed a place to live for a while. One of Mother’s responsibilities as a young girl was to keep the walks swept, in front of the home in Norman, Oklahoma, which probably accounted for the fact she was always sweeping her own front walks as well as her neighbors at times.  Mom was very service oriented when it came to family and friends.

Mother attended schools in Norman, Oklahoma until her senior year of high school when her family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Mother and her family were introduced to the Church after their move to New Mexico.  She came from a very musical family and enjoyed singing in school, church and with her family. After graduating from high school, she moved to Utah with her sister. She attended Brigham Young University for one year and then moved to Salt Lake City. Mom and her sister Genny, worked in the Salt Lake area and lived in the Beehive House for a year. Mom was living there when she met Dad at a dance. Dad called it the “behave house”. You had to “behave” if you were going to live there.  They were married September 6, 1947 in the Salt Lake City Temple.  They lived in the Salt Lake City area until they built their home in Bountiful, Utah in May 1951.  Mother cared deeply for her husband and children. She was a great cook and made sure we knew how to cook, so that we were  capable of taking care of ourselves. We had a large backyard where many family and ward parties were held. We also had a large garden area and fruit trees, so come harvest time we had a lot of fruit and vegetables to enjoy.  A lot of fond memories were made in that yard.  Mom held a variety of positions in the ward, including visiting teacher, MIA presidency, printed the ward newsletter, sang in the ward choir, and sang at funerals in a trio with Lucille Barlow and Sherry Hulse. Mom had a beautiful singing voice up until the end. She would sit in her chair and sing along with the Tabernacle Choir on Sunday mornings and occasionally as she walked past the piano, would stop and play a few notes and sing along.  Mother and Dad were great examples of love and service.  We as their children felt of their love, and they were always there for us. Mother retired from Sperry Univac in October 1981. This gave Mom and Dad more time to be together and do some travelling. They enjoyed their little road trips. When Mother came to live with her daughter, she enjoyed going camping, attending great grand children’s soccer games, music recitals and birthday parties. She was a happy person and a joy to have around.  Mother was in the hospital this year on Thanksgiving day, but a family gathering was being held at Debbie and Les’ home.  The families gathered at the hospital to see Mom and pictures were taken with her. It was a good day for her and for us. She will be greatly missed.  Mother is preceded in death by her husband, Donald, her parents, Joel and Alvaretta Hastings, her siblings, Raymond (deceased)  Elna Mae Hastings, Genny (deceased) Hal Iverson,   Art and Ruth Hastings (deceased), William (deceased) Lenore Hastings and Loyal (deceased) Janice Hastings.  She is survived by her children, Alan, Sierra Vista, Arizona, Debra (Les) Ashby, Providence, Utah, Lance, Kaysville, Utah, Jeff (Janey) West Bountiful, Utah, Vic (Tae) Farmington, Utah.  Mother has 16 grand-children, and  25 great grand-children with one on the way.

Our family is fortunate enough to be blessed with musicians, both vocal and instrumental, artists and hard workers. Our parents taught us well and to serve one another. May we pass those examples on to our own  families.  We miss you terribly but we know of the great reunion with your family on the other side. In lieu of flowers, Mother asks that you donate to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Mission Fund or Perpetual Education Fund. 

A viewing will be held Wednesday, December 7, 2016 from 6-8 pm at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 295 North Main St. Bountiful, Utah. Funeral  services will be held Thursday, December 8, 2016 at 1:00pm in the Bountiful 58th ward chapel, 200 North 200 West, Bountiful, Utah, with a viewing from 11:30 to 12:30 prior to funeral.