Val G Evans

Val G Evans passed away peacefully at home in the presence of family on July 3, 2026. He was born to Ward and Elzada Fietkau Evans on October 12, 1940, in Roosevelt, Utah, the eighth of thirteen children. He weighed only 2.5 pounds at birth and was not expected to survive. He proved throughout his life that big things come in little packages. Val loved God, his family — especially his dear wife — his neighbors, music, serving others, literature, the arts, and any opportunity to gather with those he loved. He had a gift for helping others feel loved, included, and important. Whether he was visiting with someone, offering a helping hand, singing or listening to music, or filling a room with laughter, Val made life brighter for everyone around him.

Val grew up on a humble farm in the Uintah Basin, where he and his siblings learned from loving parents to work hard, raise gardens, and care for animals. They had a life filled with love and peppered with mischief. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1960 to 1962 in the Eastern Atlantic States Mission. Although it was difficult for him to talk to people when he was young, he was determined to conquer this weakness. He found that as he started conversations with each person he encountered, he was able to overcome that anxiety. He grew to love meeting new people wherever he went. He seldom went anywhere that he couldn’t make a connection with someone.

He met his angel of a wife, Joyce Bartlett, at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah, in 1964. Though they had grown up in the same stake as youth, they hadn’t previously crossed paths. They fell in love and were sealed for time and eternity on November 24, 1965, in the Salt Lake Temple. They made their first home in Logan, Utah, where Dad earned his Bachelor’s in Education and started their family with the birth of daughter Charlotte. His first teaching job was at the elementary school in Coalville, Utah. Here, they added two more daughters, Bonnie and Andrea. They moved to Sandy, Utah, in 1970, and between 1972 and 1988, they welcomed Mark, Boyd, Lynn, Nathan, Emily, and Steven into their home.

Dad was a hard worker. Throughout his life, he worked two to three jobs in addition to teaching to ensure that Mom could be home to raise their large family. These jobs included welder, insulation installer, gas station attendant, car and truck mechanic, truck driver, insurance agent, and gilsonite miner. However, teaching was Dad's true calling. Mom would say, “he drove truck so he could afford to teach school.” After teaching elementary school for a time, he earned his certificate to teach special education and worked for many years helping middle school students with learning difficulties. He wanted them to understand that they could do anything they desired. He knew that every person he met was a child of God from whom he could learn something important.

Dad served faithfully in many Church callings but particularly loved working with the youth. He enjoyed camping, backpacking, fishing, and teaching others to love the outdoors as much as he did. He also loved singing in the ward choir and encouraged his children to join him. He also strongly encouraged his children and grandchildren in their love of music, both instrumental and vocal. He always loved listening to anyone who would play for him and encouraged talent shows at every opportunity. Throughout his life, he supported his family’s talents, attending recitals, school performances, and concerts.

While serving as bishop of the Crescent 3rd Ward he still worked two jobs. Many Fridays he came home from teaching school, changed into his blue coveralls, loaded a fuel truck, and left to make the deliveries. After unloading he drove straight home, caught a few hours of sleep, and went to early Sunday meetings. His devotion to church service was a great example to us all, and has inspired our lives.

Val was preceded in death by his parents; his siblings Gordon (Beth and Barbara) Evans, Chad (Betty) Evans, Warren "Kent" Evans, Wendell (Donna) Evans, Gayle Evans, and Burke Evans, sister-in-law, Pat Evans, and brother-in-law, Dawn Gatherum; his son, Mark Evans; and his grandson, Alex Hansen.

He is survived by his beloved wife of more than 60 years, Joyce; his siblings Forrest (Luella) Evans, Conrad Evans, Eloise Gatherum, and Kathreen (Terry) Thimmes; his children Charlotte (Steve) Hansen, Bonnie (Brent) Nelson, Andrea (Darin) Marsh, daughter-in-law Trisha Evans, Boyd (LeeAnn) Evans, Lynn (Rachel) Evans, Nathan (Brenda) Evans, Emily (Josh) Mason, and Steven (Kayleigh Dahl) Evans; 35 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren expected soon.

Funeral Services will be held Friday, July 10, 2026, 12:00 p.m. at the Amaryllis Ward, 945 East 10600 South, Sandy, Utah. Viewings will be held Thursday, July 9, 2026, 6-8:00 p.m. and again Friday 10-11:45 a.m. also at the church. Interment, Tridell City Cemetery, 9274 N. 8500 E, Tridell Blvd, Tridell, Utah.