Velda (Merkely) Hansen

The Phillips Ashley Valley Funeral Home is not handling the services for Velda. We are posting the obituary as a courtesy for the family.

Our beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great-great-grandmother, Velda Merkley Hansen, passed away peacefully on June 6, 2022, of causes due to pneumonia. She was born May 7, 1926, along with her twin sister, Veda Merkley Parkin, in the family home in Maeser, Utah to Morgan and Irma Carpenter Merkley. Their dad delivered them as there was no doctor nearby to summons nor a women's clinic to go to even if they had owned a car to transport their mother. They were tiny, weighing just 3 pounds, so the warming oven over their wood-burning stove kept them comfortable. Over time they lovingly became known as the "VelVeda" twins.

Her childhood days were the days of the great depression and times were difficult, but they were also wonderful times. They had a happy life growing up on the family ranch, and they were sustained as a family from their hard work and efforts. They never had to shop at a grocery store.

After graduating from Uintah High School in 1944, Velda and Veda wanted to go to BYU, but they went to Provo with not enough money to rent an apartment, so they were forced to find employment at Don's Cafe. This is where she met Roland Hansen who became her husband on September 8, 1945. They had 3 children together: Sheryl, Eddie and Randy.

During the first 5 years of their marriage, they never owned a car. Their means of transportation were 2 bikes that had seats on the back where Sheryl and Eddie rode. They lived in northwest Provo before moving to their home in Orem. She and her husband later divorced, and she never remarried. She resided in her home in the Orem 13th Ward and provided for herself for many years as a secretary at Barbizon until she retired from BYU Foundation.

After retiring, she eventually moved to Nephi, Utah to live with her twin. They enjoyed walking 5 miles every day keeping nature natural by always cleaning up as they went.

She was active in the LDS Church, had a strong testimony of the Gospel, and held many Ward and Stake positions. She and her twin were honored by KSL on their 90th birthday, as well as being selected to be the Grand Marshalls of the annual Nephi Parade.

She is survived by her 3 children: Sheryl Jones (Daniel, deceased), Centerville, UT; Eddie (Janice Probst), Sandy, UT; and Randy (Sharon Wilson), Lindon, UT; 17 grandchildren, and numerous great and great-great grands. Also surviving her are sisters: Veda Merkley Parkin, Nephi, UT; Phoebe Jane Hall, Vernal, UT; and one brother George D. Merkley, Vernal, UT.

She is preceded in death by her parents, sisters: Clella Merkley, Sybil Merkley Bohn, and her brothers Glindon and Junior Merkley.

Sincere appreciation to Laurel Groves Assisted Living who made mom's last 5 years comfortable and happy. She always said she loved living there.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 11, 2022, at Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary, 495 South State Street in Orem, with a viewing held from 10:00 - 10:30 am prior to the services.  Interment will be in the Orem City Cemetery.

Condolences for the family may be expressed on this page. 

For those unable to attend the services, they will be streamed via Facebook Live at 11:00 am on Saturday at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/sundbergolpinfuneralhome

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