Susan Ardis Hansen

Susan Ardis Hansen, 70, from Shelley passed away November 3, 2025 at home surrounded by family.

She was born September 26, 1955 in Salt Lake City, UT to Rex Owen Wright and Ardis Elizabeth (Hale) Walton. She would spend the first years in the Tooele, UT area along with her two brothers - Kenneth and James. In 1959, a foster child named Rayleen Smith joined the family for seven years before being placed in the care of relatives. Susan enjoyed a sister-like relationship with her.

Some time following a divorce, Ardis remarried in 1961 to Donald Elwood Walton, who later legally adopted Susan and her two brothers. Another brother, Brian, would join the family in 1962. They briefly lived in Kearns, UT before moving to Mooreland, ID May of 1966.

In May of 1966, a sister - Pamela, was born but sadly passed away after two days.

The family moved to Shelley in 1968, during the last few weeks of 6th grade, where she continued to live ever since.

On July 26, 1969, she and her brothers were sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple to Donald and Ardis Walton.

Her life throughout the remainder of education in Shelley became progressively filled with friends she’d remain close with for the rest of her life. During high school, she was active in Future Home Makers of America, serving as the President her senior year, and participated in musicals.

Following High School, she worked at Signal Mountain lodge for the summer which she'd tell stories of forever. After which, she attended Vogue Beauty College. She’d go on to learn from Paul Mitchell during his hair stylist shows, where she was also invited to train other stylists for a couple of his shows. She was offered a position with Paul Mitchell that would have involved travel and doing stylist work for some prestigious individuals and events. However, her heart was set on a more family-oriented life.

For decades, she worked on people’s hair and make-up in salons, at pageants, and for stage productions. She worked at Regis Hair Salon in Idaho Falls, Janeal’s Beauty Salon in Shelley, and eventually had a shop added to her home. Susan’s Hair and Makeup was the fulfillment of a goal she shared while a participant in the 1975 Idaho Falls Pageant that she’d like to operate a shop in her home. “What really keeps me going is if I can make one person look better than when they came in, then I have accomplished something that day.” She’d also become quite known for her talents in sewing. Hundreds of beds have been covered by her quilts - some of which won prizes in competitions. Hundreds of girls and women have worn dresses and gowns to church, proms, pageants, and weddings - including many wedding dresses. Dozens also have learned how to sew from lessons she continued to teach as long as her body and mind permitted. She once commented how she related most with the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella and was thrilled being able to make someone’s dream dress a reality, which brought her satisfaction.

Many of the shirts and skirts/dresses her kids wore during their childhood were made by her at the kitchen table. During her kids’ high school years, she’d tirelessly support them by sewing together costumes for their ballroom dance performances and plays they were in. For weddings and graduations of kids and grandkids, she would give beautifully crafted quilts.

She enjoyed and was talented in various forms of the arts. She would pass time away doing cross stitching, drawing various characters - mostly cherubic-styled children, or painting. For decades - starting in high school - her second home was the stage where she got to sing, dance, and act. Great memories were made around the piano as she’d play and sing hymns, popular (soft rock) songs, and songs from musicals with her kids. For part of the 1990s, she shared her joy of music with kids throughout the community as she ran a kids singing group called Talent Sprouts. Hundreds of people who grew up in Shelley will have a song stuck in their head with the mere mention of, “Come on and sing out, but don’t shout…”

In 1977, she would meet her husband-to-be, Larry Hansen, as they served together in an LDS Singles group that planned a Christmas Dance. When her date didn’t show up, Larry took turns dancing with the date (a friend) he brought, and Susan. She quickly went from being the third-wheel at the dance to becoming the number one woman in his life. After a couple weeks of frequent visits and daily phone calls, he proposed on January 1, 1978 following a dance he took her to on New Year’s Eve. They were sealed for time and all eternity on April 14, 1978 in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple.

This began a life of together spanning almost 48 years. During those years, they raised 4 kids and became invested grandparents to 14 grandkids. She loved the outdoors and vacations with the family. Whether a ward campout, a weekend or weeklong escape, or just a hike, she found joy in the experiences we shared. She was an incredible support to her family and constant cheerleader, encouraging others to pursue dreams and goals. She loved showing up at any band/choir concert, musical production, baseball/football/basketball game, soccer match, half-time performance, competition, etc. her kids and grandkids participated in. She’d beam with excitement and encouragement that could be felt no matter where she was in proximity to her grandkids activities - even if watching online those times she couldn’t physically be there.

She was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and loved serving in various callings throughout her life. Many youth in the Shelley 4th Ward knew of her love and devotion to the Savior as she served in Primary and Young Women. Many families felt her charity and compassion as she would prepare meals (did we mention she was an incredible cook?) or headed up Secret Santa efforts for those she learned of who were in need. Other callings included Choir Director and Indexing.

In 1994, the active parts of her life started slowing down for her following a diagnosis of Myasthenia Gravis. Despite the trials and struggles that brought in her life, she was the constant optimist. In March 2024, she was officially diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia. While the combination of the two would take some things many take for granted away from her, it never took away her faith in, love for, and dedication to Christ and her family.

Susan was preceded in death and is now enjoying a reunion in Heaven with her sister - Pamela Walton, father - Donald Walton, grandson - Joshua Jay Hansen, birth-father - Rex Wright, and brother - Kenneth Walton.

She is survived by her mother - Ardis Walton, husband - Larry, son - Kevin (Dawnette), daughter - Melanie (Justin) Waltman, son - Steven (Mindy), daughter - Kellie (Paul) Tonks, brother - James (Tonya) Walton, brother - Doug (D) Wright, brother - Carl (Nancy) Wright, brother - Bryan Walton, other family members she loves, and 13 grandchildren - Audrey, Kyle, and Kaden Hansen, Alyssa (Ben) Steele, Abby (Jason) Garn, and Timothy Bullock; Michael, Katie, and Lea Hansen; and Ian, Isaac, Mercedes, and Makenzie Tonks.

Family, friends, and neighbors are invited to a celebration of her life at 11:00 AM Saturday, November 8, 2025 at the Shelley First Ward Chapel, 184 North Park Ave, Shelley, ID 83274. The family will also receive friends Friday evening from 6:00 to 7:30 PM at Nalder Funeral Home, 110 W Oak Street in Shelley and Saturday morning from 9:30 to 10:45 AM at the church. Burial will be in the Shelley Hillcrest Cemetery.

Services can also be accessed via Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/97052931332?from=join#success

Webinar ID: 97052931332

Event Code: 122820

In lieu of flowers, we hope you would consider donating to the following causes to help provide more hope and solutions for families: Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (https://myasthenia.org/) or Alzheimer's Association of America (https://www.alz.org/)

As a family, we would like to express gratitude to the doctors and their amazing staff who’ve been incredible in helping her navigate her health challenges and witnessed miracles along the way that kept her with us decades longer than medicine alone could explain: Dr. Kenneth Krell, Dr. Shawn Spiers, Dr. Brady Cook, Dr. Stephen Vincent, Dr. Mark Bromberg, Dr. John Foley, and Dr. Douglas Whatmore. Along with compassionate and skilled caregivers and nurses from Home Helpers of Idaho Falls and Mission Home Health and Hospice who cared for her and supported the family during her final weeks.

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