Elden Tanner

ELDEN LAVON TANNER

1942 ~ 2025

Elden Lavon Tanner was born on March 8, 1942 in Dietrick, Idaho. He passed away on August 16, 2025, at the age of 83. His parents were Afton Lavon Tanner and Iola Mecham Tanner in Idaho with his family and graduated from Twin Falls High School.

After graduation he moved to Utah with his parents. He attended LDS Business College for a year. He worked as a mechanic along side his father. They opened a mechanic/radiator shop and spent several years working side by side.

On October 10, 1978, he became a Salt Lake City Police Officer. He loved his job as an officer retiring after 25 + years. During that time, he owned a security and locksmith company. He worked part-time for several auto dealerships in Salt Lake and Utah County. After retiring from the police department, he did this full time and fully retired in 2001.

On January 15, 1994, he married Anita Heaps. They shared 31 years of marriage together enjoying camping, hunting, fishing, ATV riding and traveling around the U.S. in their motorhome.

Elden has four children from a previous marriage; Laura (Rick) Bytendorp, Shawna (Kevin) Bersett, Shane (Lisa) Tanner and Jillene (Bruce) Romans. He also became a father figure to Anita's children; Shane (Diana) Heaps, Dustin (Carrie) Heaps, Travis (Gina) Heaps and Jaemi (Fred) Dobson.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Zoland and Merlyn, and sister Idella.

He has many grandchildren and great-grandchildren that he loved and enjoyed spending time with. He loved his family and will be missed by all of them.

Funeral services will be held Monday, August 26th, 2025, 12:00 noon at McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 South Redwood Road, with a viewing 11:00 -11:45 a.m. prior to the funeral service.

Interment, Valley View Memorial Park,4400 West 4100 South, West Valley City, Utah.