Lawana Howell Thompson

Our beloved mother and grandmother, LaWana Howell Thompson, 80, was called home February 23, 2017, in North Platte, Nebraska.
She was born in Sugar City, Idaho, on July 8, 1936, to Richard Smith Howell and Signa Elizabeth Fikstad. She was the sixth of eight children.
LaWana married the love of her life, Merlin John Thompson, on Oct. 31, 1952, in Salt Lake City, Utah. They were lifelong members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and were sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple on April 13, 1972. The couple was happily married for 62 wonderful years and was blessed with five daughters. LaWana was preceded in death by her husband, Merlin, on September 1, 2015.
She was primarily a homemaker but also worked as a nurse’s aide, packed salads at Lynn Wilson Foods and cared for children at The Sports Mall nursery for many years before retiring.
LaWana and Merlin loved to spend time with family. They would often travel long distances to family events. They also loved to have family over to picnic, swing and ride horses in their backyard.
She had many interests including poetry, scrapbooking, flowers, watching old Westerns and collecting dolls and rocks. She also loved music, dancing, and playing the piano.
She is survived by her daughters, Kristine (Wayne) Hopkinson, North Platte, Nebraska, Barbra Jean (James) Debenham, West Valley City, Utah, Jillene Thompson, West Valley City, Utah, Dixie Lee Lee, Taylorsville, Utah, and Stacey May (Randy) Maestas, Riverton, Utah; her brother, Richard “Merrill” Howell, West Jordan, Utah; sisters, RaNay Debenham, Vancouver, Washington, and Colleen Steed, Oklahoma City; sisters-in-law, Karla Howell, Bountiful, Utah, Alice Howell, Kearns, Utah, and Wanda Hall, Rexburg, Idaho; 15 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; a great-great-granddaughter; and many nephews and nieces.
LaWana was preceded in death by her loving husband; her parents; and her brothers, Dale, Leo, Aaron (at birth) and Ted Howell.
Online condolences may be shared at memorialutah.com/obituaries.
Services will be held at Redwood Memorial Estates, 6500 South Redwood Road, West Jordan, UT 84123. Viewing, Friday, March 3rd, 6-8 p.m. Viewing, Saturday, March 4th, 11 a.m. – Noon. Funeral, Saturday, March 4th, Noon. Laid to rest at Redwood Memorial Estates.
Odean Colonial Chapel was in charge of previous services held in North Platte, Nebraska.
Service Information
Viewing March 3, 2017 at 6:00 - 8:00 PM
6500 South Redwood Road, West Jordan, UT 84123





Viewing March 4, 2017 at 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
6500 South Redwood Road, West Jordan, UT 84123





Funeral Service
March 4, 2017 at 12:00 PM
6500 South Redwood Road, West Jordan, UT 84123