Afton Monson Tanner

Afton Monson Tanner, loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away May 23, 2016 in Fort Collins, Colorado. She was born at home in Ucon, Idaho on November 17, 1934, the third child as well as the third daughter of Andrew N Monson and Angelina Tracy. During the difficult times of the Great Depression, she and her seven siblings were part of an industrious and self-reliant family with a large garden, shared clothing and a variety of part-time jobs. After graduating as a member of the first senior class of the new Bonneville High School, she attended and graduated in September 1955 from the LDS School of Nursing.

During her nursing internship, she met Harvey Tanner on a blind date. When he later returned from his LDS mission to New Zealand, they became re-acquainted and married on March 15, 1957 in the Idaho Falls Temple. Afton and Harvey immediately started their family and made their home in Blackfoot, Idaho where they lived for 55 years. Afton practiced her healing art both in their home with their six children and in the community. For more than 50 years, she worked as a nurse at the Bingham County Hospital, the Blackfoot Medical Clinic and finally at the Atomic Energy Site near Arco. People all over Bingham County were blessed by her unique ability to heal not only their bodies but their souls.

Despite her fulltime commitment to family and the vocation of nursing, Afton was a very active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, holding a wide variety of Primary, Young Women and Relief Society callings at both ward and stake levels. With her beloved Harvey, she served more than 10+ years as an Idaho Falls Temple ordinance worker. Afton and Harvey also spent two years each serving full-time church assignments in the South Africa Cape Town Mission and the Samoa Apia Mission.

Afton was preceded in death by her youngest daughter Jennifer Tanner, her parents and two of her sisters (Faye Ann and RoseMarie), and one grandchild. She is survived by her husband Harvey, five of her siblings (Mary Jane Farnsworth, Darlene Coles, David Monson, Gary Monson and LaDawn Battleson), five children and their spouses (Cynthia and Kenneth Hunt of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Mark and Nanette Tanner of Springville, Utah; Greg and Stacy Tanner of Cedar Hills, Utah; Lisa and Shawn Christensen of Provo, Utah; and Kevin and Heather Tanner of Fort Collins, Colorado), 27 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. They all will greatly miss Afton's homemade bread, bright smile and spirited personality.

Family and friends are invited to a viewing on Sunday, May 29, 2016 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the Blackfoot Stake Center (1650 Highland Dr.) in Blackfoot. The funeral will be held on Monday, May 30, 2016 at 10:00am with a viewing from 8:30am to 9:30am, also in the Blackfoot Stake Center. Interment will be at the Grove City Cemetery in Blackfoot. Family and friends may sign the guestbook and share memories of Afton at www.heritagefuneralhomeutah.com.

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