Jeanne Anderson Thayne

1929 – 2023

Jeanne Anderson Thayne, a gentle, classy and outstanding woman left her earthly existence on September 16th, 2023. Just a month before her passing, she was showered with the love of family as we celebrated her 94 beautiful and joyous years. In addition, most of her family and many friends were able to visit in the last months and days of her life. She was born in Ogden, Utah on July 27th, 1929 (the third) of six children born to Carl Ferrell and Ethel L. Anderson, but raised in the small Eastern Montana Town of Glendive, Montana where the family opened Anderson’s Department Store. For some time they were the only members of the LDS church in Glendive. Jeanne developed deep faith, love and acceptance of everyone she knew. One of her greatest attributes was assuming the best in others.

Although hospitality came naturally for Jeanne, she developed social skills and ethics working in the family-run clothing store. After graduation from Dawson High, she left home to pursue a higher education at Utah Agricultural College (now Utah State). She took a geology class and met young handsome, Stanley James Thayne who had returned from World War 2 and was teaching the class. The two married in 1949 in the Logan LDS Temple, and made their permanent home in Orem, Utah. Together they opened a Dairy Queen. They raised five children and worked to create a happy home. Jeanne didn’t criticize others and as children, we benefited greatly from her calm demeanor, grace, and encouragement of us and our varying personalities, energies, and talents.

Because of her love and skill at writing, Jeanne became a reporter and editor for the Orem Geneva Times in 1965. Her husband Stan teased her about being Lois Lane, and she quipped, âdoes that make you super man?ã Stan and Jeanne complemented each other because Stan loved to joke and tease, and she loved to laugh. She had a wonderful sense of humor. She loved the job at the Times so much, she said she would have done it for free. She quit in 1972 to care for Stan who was diagnosed with Lymphoma cancer. She lovingly cared for him until his death in 1979. She then served an LDS mission in Ventura, Ca. After her mission she worked another 11 years at the Orem Geneva Times.

Jeanne’s home became a haven for many, especially after Stan passed away. She cared for her aging mother for many years. She opened her home to anyone: grown children, numerous grandchildren, and others who needed her whether for days, months or years. Somehow, she managed to make nurturing others seem easy as she calmed the storms for those experiencing hardship. Jeanne has been very influential in the lives of her grandchildren and several of them consider her their second mother.

Jeanne served in many callings in the LDS church including two stints as the Relief Society president, but one of her favorite callings was working with the Guide Patrol, the 11-year-old boys. She also volunteered and served on the Orem Scera Recreation board, was president of the League of Utah Writers, Utah Valley Chapter, and taught at the Mission Training Center. She was recognized for her valiant civic service as a recipient of the Walter C Orem award with her ever-understated humility.

For the last nine years of her life, she lived in Treeo, which ironically is juxtaposed across the park from the home, she and Stan built in 1951. One of Jeanne’s many gifts is the ability to adjust with grace to life’s many challenges. She looked on the bright side of life and lovingly spoke of others and her surroundings.

Jeanne Anderson Thayne is survived by her five children, Steven (Sheila) Doug (Debra), David (Tami) Brian (Norma) Carole Warburton (Mick) 19 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and two sisters, Marilyn Smith, and Carole Fuqua. Her sister Janet Hardy preceded her in death by two weeks but helped Jeanne greatly.

A special thanks to the staff and residents of Treeo Senior Independent Living, all the excellent caregivers from Visiting Angels especially Lori Gibbons and Kim Roberts, Quality Hospice with extra loving and expert care from Kathy Marsden. Brian and Norma Thayne led the effort for the last seven months with an army of volunteers that included all of Jeanne’s children, their spouses, grandchildren, and other family members and friends.

If unable to attend you may watch a webcast of service on Saturday, September 23, 2023, starting at 11:00 am. Go to www.walkersanderson.com and click on Jeanne’s obituary, look for tribute wall and the “Watch Now” play button. A recording will remain on obituary for a few weeks.

In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to SCERA (scera.org), a non-profit charitable 501(c)(3) arts organization. Your donation is tax-deductible.