Memories by his Daughters

 

Memories

Landi: I want to share a few memories from my dad’s mother, Dorothy, and his four siblings. All through his growing up years his family and close friends called him by his nickname, Lanny. Grandma said she only has positive memories of him. He was so cute, she said, and had an enthusiasm for life. She can never remember a time she was mad at him...not even when he and his friend, Dee, set the field on fire as young teenagers...of course she didn’t find out about it until years later. In high school he received the Scholar Athlete award. He didn’t let anything stop him from playing sports. He reinjured his knee on his mission and the doctor in Spain didn’t know what to do so they stuck him in a cast. When he returned from his mission he had to have surgery. He still went out to play basketball with his brothers, wearing his knee brace. His youngest brother, Joey, still has a scar from the brace slicing his leg during a game.

He was close in age with his older brother, Jerry, and younger sister, Lynette, so they shared a lot of the same friends and did a lot of things together. Lynette remembers a time when she, Jerry, and my dad decided to play a prank on their parents while they were out one night. They covered themselves with ketchup and laid on the ground right before their parents walked in so they would think they were coming home to a crime scene. Their parents went along with it until they all started laughing. 

My aunt Natalie was nine years younger than my dad and they had a close bond when they were younger. She was his Little Buddy and he would read her stories and spend time with her. One time there was a stuffed animal she really wanted while on vacation and he said, “I’ll buy you this stuffed animal if you finally stop sucking your thumb.” So she got the stuffed animal.

One of my dad’s treasured memories was driving up to Utah once to take his brothers out to dinner and a baseball game.

After my grandpa passed away in 2000 my dad was a big support to my Grandma. He helped her get her finances in order and did her taxes. He would call her every Sunday night to check on her and see how she was doing. She remembers always being able to call my dad with any question about the church or genealogy. These are just a few of the many wonderful memories his family has of him.

Kristen: My dad was always supportive of whatever activities we were involved in. I remember one time in 9th grade I had a basketball game in Phoenix and my dad was the only person on our side of the bleachers supporting us. At high school cross-country meets, Mom sat in the stands but he would run to different points along the course for the chance to see me, or Kara or Jordan, and cheer us on.

He was always willing to help us--when my husband and I moved from North Carolina, he flew there to pack and drive our huge moving truck and tow our car all the way back to Arizona. He did the same thing for my oldest sister, driving a truck from Alaska to Arizona. The night before one of my sisters got married, my dad decided his future son in laws would have to beat him in chess. He played 3 future son in laws in chess matches all at the same time. My husband, Nate, was the only one who won. The Sunday before he passed away, me and a couple of my sisters reminisced with my dad about the many, many times we called to ask him for help even when we weren’t in the same state. This was before smart phones, but I called him once saying “I’m in this city in Illinois and I am trying to get to this other city, what road do I take? And he figured it out. When my car wouldn’t start in the middle of Kansas he helped me through it over the phone, all the way from Arizona. He has saved me from countless situations and I am glad I have been able to rely on him. And I’m only one out of eight. He has done this for all of his children.

Kylie: A fun activity that my dad organized and was passionate about was the Ipson Family and Friends 5K. He especially loved when we would invite others to join in and we’d have a big group. He mapped out a course around the neighborhood, and did a practice run beforehand. He even made us sign in under our specific age brackets and he timed us. He had signs along the route, water stations, and Gatorade and fruit for after the race. The highlight of the 5K was the raffle tickets and prizes. He would go to the dollar store and buy random items, and then constantly remind us, “Don’t forget to get a raffle ticket! Win prizes worth dollars!” 

When I was learning to drive my dad had me drive his truck, which if you know about his truck--it is big, loud, and has no AC--he made me drive figure 8’s around our backyard which is just a big acre of dirt. This is a fun memory that I will always remember. 

 

Kara: When I think about my dad, I can’t help but think of his strong testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ and the restored gospel. He wasn’t afraid to live it or share it. Missionary work and gospel learning was evident in everything he did. 

When I was a young adult and faced with what I thought was the hardest moment of my life, I came to my dad for help. He just listened while I talked to him sitting up in his room one evening. When I was done talking the first words from his mouth were, “I know the Atonement of Jesus Christ is real.” That’s all I needed to hear. Those simple words and his simple testimony have stuck with me throughout my entire life. Ed J. Pinegar once said, “Our behavior is nothing more than a reflection of the depth of our conversion to Jesus Christ.” I know many have been blessed and changed from his gospel sharing and example of faith and righteousness but we had firsthand experience in our own home with the sure knowledge that Lance Ipson had a true testimony that God the Father is real, Jesus is His son, and the Atonement is real. He lived it every day of his life.

to be continued...

Life Sketch by his Sons

 In age order: Jarom, Landi, Megan, Justin, Kara, Kristen, Jordan, Kylie

Life Sketch of Lance Waine Ipson

Jarom: Our dad died with his work boots on, and zip-ties in his pocket. He was doing what he loved--working in the yard on one of his many projects. After a private autopsy we learned his death was due to complications of an enlarged heart, which caused his heart to fail. He died instantly, with no suffering, and would not have been able to see it coming. We are grateful to be able to share a little bit about his life today.  

***

Jordan: My dad was a cherished son. He was born on March 12, 1960 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Gerald and Dorothy Ipson. He weighed only 5½ lbs but grew to be a giant of a man. He was the second of five children--three boys and two girls, and lived in Murray and South Jordan, Utah.

My dad was a loyal brother and friend. He grew up roaming the fields of the Salt Lake Valley: riding motorcycles, hunting, enjoying life with his brothers and sisters, and friends. When his youngest brother was in a terrible motorcycle accident several years ago, my dad took off work to go up and spent five days with him. Dad has kept in touch with some of his childhood friends for over 50 years.

My dad was a devoted husband. He married Valerie Giberson in the Jordan River Temple on February 12, 1982. As the saying goes, “the best gift a father can give his children is to love their mother,” and we knew he loved her dearly. He prioritized date nights, and all of us children knew date nights were sacred. He also loved getaways with Mom. He took her to Spain where he had served his mission, and last fall they traveled to Costa Rica.

My dad was a dedicated father. He epitomized the meaning of finding “joy in posterity.” He loved each of his kids individually and always was there to lift them up, pick them up, and fix them up. He made a big deal of birthdays, and always said just like his own dad used to, “I remember eight years ago today,” or whatever age you were on that particular birthday.

When his children found spouses, he loved them like his own, and he was a generous Grandpa. He loved to hold his grandkids, read to them, play with them, and teach them. His main goal for working on his yard was so his grandkids would have a place to play and have a little bit of farm life. Last winter he spent time improving the kids’ play area. He cleared the sandbox of all the weeds that had sprouted up, and added extra dirt. The next Sunday one of his grandsons walked with him outside and when he saw the sandbox he said, “Grandpa, where are all the plants?” 

Justin: My dad valued hard work. Dad could fix anything, or at least was never afraid to try. He took cars apart and videoed it so he would know how to put it back together. When we built our house in Clinton, Utah he installed the roof himself to save money, even though he’d never done it before. And this was before Youtube. He was so proud of that accomplishment.

I want to be like my dad because he valued education and learning. He was the first person in his extended family to go to college. He later graduated from Utah State University with a degree in accounting.

While finishing this degree, he went to school full-time and worked full-time with three small children at home. He started his accounting career as an auditor with the Defense Contract Audit Agency, which eventually took the family to Israel for over two years. His patriarchal blessing said he would be a father in Israel. Of course it meant the House of Israel, but he just always loved mentioning that. One of the highlights of his life was walking where the Savior walked and taking us to experience those places.

After moving back to Utah, Dad took a new job at Phelps Dodge, which later became Freeport-McMoRan in Arizona. After seventeen great years there, he took an early retirement. He spent over a year working at home in the garden and other projects, but eventually said he “failed at retirement” and went back to work, this time for Viad Corporation. Most recently he was the Indirect Tax Manager at Mitel in Mesa. Those who worked with Dad knew him as a diligent employee who took pride in a job well done.

He liked hard work so much that even his hobbies were work. He worked in the yard, growing his garden and tending his chickens. He always had multiple projects going. His latest project was a pumpkin patch to grow a pumpkin for each of his grandchildren for Halloween. Despite the Arizona heat he spent time out there everyday and even kept a journal to track his efforts to protect the new seedlings from the birds, rabbits, and squirrels. Dad took us camping and hiking regularly. One of his crowning achievements was hiking rim-to-rim in the Grand Canyon with some of his kids. He also ran two marathons and had decided to do a third in February. 

I want to be like my dad because not only did he work hard, he played hard. One of his favorite hobbies was sports—playing them or watching them. He loved playing basketball especially—with his brothers and his dad, with guys at church, or his children. At most family gatherings, we played games of some sort.

He loved playing football at Bingham High School. He also was on the wrestling team. He was a lifelong BYU sports fan. If you couldn’t tell by the color of his casket, he was “dyed in the wool, true-blue through and through.” He supported Utah State University sports but when they played BYU, he cheered for the Y. He was a die-hard Utah Jazz basketball fan. He even watched the Jazz play in the NBA finals with his sons at 3:00am one morning while living in Israel. Because he worked at Freeport-McMoRan, he often got tickets to Arizona sporting events, including the Arizona Diamondbacks. He loved having a baseball team to cheer for. 

Dad loved telling stories about his ancestors. He held a special home evening once after most of us had grown and moved out to teach us how to find a name to take to the temple. Because of his family history research, he met people related to him from back east and Denmark that he otherwise would not have known. Dad and Mom loved to do family history together, and truly embraced the spirit of Elijah.

Jarom: I want to be like my dad because he reminds me of many prophets in the Book of Mormon.  

Like Nephi, Dad was “born of goodly parents” who taught him to love the Lord. He never hesitated when the Lord asked him to do something, whether he was called to be a primary teacher or a bishop. My dad was like Nephi because he always obeyed with exactness. He knew the Lord would prepare a way for him to keep the commandments. 

My dad was like King Benjamin because he knew that when “you are in the service of your fellow beings, you are only in the service of your God.” He was always ministering to others. He was there when people needed help moving or fixing things. A sister from the church shared that he came to fix her pipes once, saying, “I’ve never done this before but let me get started.” Everyone who knew him knew they could count on him to help at any time—day or night. 

Dad had many different callings in the Church throughout his life. He served as Webelos leader, elders quorum instructor, ward mission leader, ward and stake young men’s president, high priests group leader, high councilor, and bishopric member. Dad was bishop of the Ellsworth Ward (part of which is now the Noble Ward) from 2004 to 2009 and currently served as bishop of the Pueblo Ward.

My dad was like Ammon and the sons of Mosiah because he was willing to go wherever he was called. He served a full-time mission for the Church in Southern Spain. He took his family halfway across the world to live in Israel for two years. Most recently he was preparing to be able to go wherever the Lord called him to on a senior couple’s mission with our mom. 

My dad was like Helaman because he inspired young men and young women to be modern-day stripling warriors. He was so proud that all three of his sons and one of his daughters served full-time missions for the Lord. He taught early morning seminary in Apache Junction one year, before that was a thing at Skyline High, because his oldest son couldn’t fit it into his schedule otherwise. Many of his callings were with the young men and scouting. He enjoyed campouts and hikes with them, and supported them in earning merit badges. He was always the first to volunteer to lead the 50 mile bike rides. He was proud that all of his sons received their Eagle Scout Award, and all his daughters received their Young Womanhood Recognition Award. As a bishop he enjoyed working with the young women, and girls camp was something he looked forward to every year. Going to the temple to do baptisms with the youth was always a highlight.

My dad was like Abinadi because he knew the scriptures and stood firm in his testimony. I remember waking up regularly and seeing his scriptures on the kitchen table because he had been studying that morning. He led our family in regular scripture study and family prayer. He took the opportunity when the family was gathered, even after many of his kids were grown and out of the house, to testify of Jesus Christ. He often read his scriptures in Spanish because it was his way of keeping up his Spanish skills after his mission.

My dad was like Lehi, who after tasting of the fruit of the tree of life and the sweetness of the gospel, wanted his family to have that same joy. He took his calling as father and patriarch seriously. We had no doubt of Dad’s testimony. Just like he took care of his trees in his backyard, he cultivated his tree of faith—his faith never stopped growing.

My dad was like Alma the Younger, giving specific counsel to each of his family members and ward members to help them follow the Lord. Dad made sure we understood the gospel plan of salvation. He gave us counsel when we needed it, and not just when we wanted it. Dad gave us each blessings before the start of school and other times when we asked. I remember him leaving many times to give blessings to someone in need. He was always a worthy priesthood holder. 

My dad was like Moroni because even until the last moments of his life, he stayed faithful in his testimony of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He often spoke of his great-great-great grandfather Neils Peter Ipson, who was a pioneer who traveled west with a handcart company to Utah. Someone once asked Neils Peter how he could sacrifice so much for the Church. He responded that it wasn’t a sacrifice at all—it was a privilege and a blessing. Dad lived by this same belief. 

Now that our dad’s earthly mission is complete, I know that he continues to serve his mission for the Lord. We know he is experiencing the peace and joy that comes from a job well done, a life well-lived. I want to be like my dad because he was a diligent and faithful disciple of Jesus Christ.  

Lance Waine Ipson died on July 24th, Pioneer Day--the day we celebrate the arrival of the Mormon pioneers to the Salt Lake Valley. My Uncle Rick wrote this about him. I will paraphrase slightly: “May we feel, even with his passing, that ‘All is well! All is well!’ And may we give thanks that this brave pioneer who has journeyed on ahead of us has left such a clear trail blazed that we cannot lose our way. Indeed, he left such impressions in our hearts that coming generations might follow them like deep ruts of wagon wheels carved into the rocky road to the Promised Land.”

July 24, 2020

 Your Grandpa Ipson passed away on this date, so I want to mark the day by preserving the words that were created as part of our celebration of his life.

 Photo taken December 2019 by Darr Moore

(used on the cover of the funeral program)

OBITUARY

Lance Waine Ipson, 60, passed away unexpectedly on July 24, 2020. Lance was born March 12, 1960 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Gerald and Dorothy Ipson.

He grew up in Murray and South Jordan, Utah and graduated from Bingham High School. He served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Spain Sevilla Mission. Upon his return he attended Brigham Young University where he met his wife, Valerie Giberson. They were sealed in the Jordan River Temple in 1982. Lance ultimately graduated from Utah State University with an accounting degree. Lance and Valerie raised their eight children in Utah, Israel, and Mesa, Arizona.

Lance valued marriage and fatherhood as vital to God’s plan for His children on earth. Fond memories include regular date nights, family dinners and birthdays, laughing and playing games, vacations, and family reunions. Getaways with his wife were important to him, with trips to Spain and Costa Rica among the most memorable.

Lance was a cherished son, brother, and friend. He was loyal to his childhood friends. He had a great love for his parents and siblings, and since the death of his father was an amazing support to his mother. He loved his ancestors, and genealogy and temple work were fundamental in his life.

His love for the Lord and the gospel of Jesus Christ defined Lance as a person. He sought to exemplify the Savior in his daily life and in his interactions with others. He enjoyed serving in the Church and held numerous callings mostly in scouting and the young men’s organization. He also served on the High Council, in a branch presidency, and as a bishop twice. Lance was currently serving as bishop in a Spanish-speaking ward. He loved sending missionaries off, ministering to others, and studying the gospel. 

Lance was known for his incredible work ethic. He began his accounting career as an auditor with the Defense Contract Audit Agency which eventually took his family to Israel for over two years. He spent seventeen years in the accounting and sales tax departments of Freeport-McMoRan in Phoenix and Miami, AZ where he enjoyed traveling internationally and using his Spanish. He said he “failed at retirement” and went to work for Viad Corp. and was currently an employee at Mitel in Mesa as an Indirect Tax Manager.

Lance played sports in school and was physically active all of his adult life. He ran two marathons and hiked the Grand Canyon rim to rim. He loved camping and fishing, especially in the High Uintas of Utah. He grew up attending BYU basketball games with his dad, and proudly supported BYU and USU sports, the Utah Jazz, and the Arizona Diamondbacks. One of his greatest joys came from supporting his children and grandchildren in every sport and activity possible. He organized family sporting activities such as basketball and baseball games. He launched the Ipson Family & Friends 5K. Lance enjoyed working in the yard, raising chickens, and gardening. He valued education and was thrilled that his children followed his example of seeking college degrees.

Survived by his wife, Valerie, his eight children, Jarom (Starla), Landi Johnson (Lance), Megan, Justin (Anatosha), Kara Willford (Tommy), Kristen Williams (Nate), Jordan (Sarah), and Kylie, and seventeen grandchildren, as well as his mother, Dorothy, and four siblings: Gerald Jr., Lynette Vawdrey, Joseph, and Natalie Muterspaugh. Preceded in death by his father, Gerald Ipson.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Pueblo Ward Mission Fund in c/o Bishop Ipson at 8811 E. Florian Ave, Mesa, AZ 85208.