Wanda Loretta Bjorkman Hanks

Four months short of turning 102 years old we lost our beloved mother and grandmother. Wanda left us unexpectedly after a tragic fall on October 6, 2023. She passed peacefully surrounded by family. Wanda was born in Soda Springs, Idaho on January 20th, 1922 to Clarence West and Oveda Nelson West. Wanda had one sister and five brothers, who all preceded her in death. When Wanda was a child, she relocated to Ogden, Utah where she  graduated from Ogden High School. She married her first husband, George H. Bjorkman M.D. in 1942 in the Salt Lake City Temple and together they had six children Eric (Connie)Bjorkman , Chris(John)Ruhl, Kathleen (Steve) Wilson, Carrie (Mike) Tippetts, David Bjorkman and John (Stephanie) Bjorkman.  In Wanda’s early years of marriage she stayed busy raising her six children and enjoyed helping George study for medical school.  Wanda and George loved spending time together traveling to Mexico several times a year. Wanda and George kept busy building the cabin in Pinedale and Wanda continued to support George at his Medical Practice when she could. She enjoyed 23 grandchildren 36 great-grandchildren and 8 great- great - grandchildren including 2 grandsons and 1 son-in-law that preceded her in death. Wanda’s first husband passed in 1964 and she remarried Larry R. Hanks in 1966.  Wanda enjoyed many years of traveling together with Larry, he proceeded her in death in 2002. Wanda cherished the times she spent at the Bjorkman family cabin in Pinedale, Wyoming and playing card games. Wanda was known for her delicious lasagna. She enjoyed canning fruits and taking care of her garden and flowers. She loved crocheting many beautiful afghans for her grandchildren and supporting them in their activities as much as she could.  The family would like to thank Dr. Cory Taylor at IMC, her hospice team, and the nurses and staff at the Cascades of Riverwalk.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, October 14, 2023 at Russon Mortuary, 295 North Main, Bountiful, Utah, where a viewing will be held from 12:45-1:45 p.m. prior to services. Graveside at later date. Services will be streamed live on the Russon Brothers Mortuary Facebook page and on this obituary page.  The live stream will begin about 10-15 minutes prior to the service and will be posted below.