A viewing and visitation will be held on Sunday, March 6th from 6 to 8 pm and Monday March 7th from 9:30-10:30 am at the Butler 7th Ward Meeting House, 1355 East 7200 South. Her funeral will be held on her 85th birthday, Monday, March 7, 2022 at 11 am, also at the Butler 7th Ward Meeting House. (A streaming link will be available). Burial and dedication of the grave will be at 3 pm at the American Fork City Cemetery.
Leanna was born in American Fork, Utah to David Cahn and Ida Ollie Munn Cahn. She married Gilbert LaVar Carlson on September 11, 1953. They sealed their love for eternity on their anniversary in 1956. He was her one true love and best friend. They loved to do many things together and with their children including camping, hunting, traveling, and dancing. She was always a true companion and helpmate. For Leanna, family came first.
Leanna was a vivacious active young woman who loved music, dancing, fishing, and sports in all their varieties. Leanna was very close to her mom and her memories of her included opera, plays, ballet, art shows and visiting friends and family. She loved fishing with her dad. Though she never completed high school herself, education was very important to Leanna and she encouraged all her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to get as much education as possible.
She played the piano and sang, did ceramics, painted and did crafts. She loved collecting things - her collections included rocks, dolls, music boxes, snow globes, Oriental dolls, paintings and figurines, and all things Christmas. Her spoon collection has over 360 spoons given to her by friends and family and originate from all over the world.
Leanna said that her proudest career accomplishments included the work she did as a mother and the 31 years she spent working as a very loved “school lunch lady.” Some of her children and many of her grandchildren attended the schools where she worked. As in all things she did, Leanna fulfilled her job with dedication and made many friends with co-workers and students. She loved to walk. She often walked the two miles to her work up until the time that she retired at the age of 73.
There were three very important things to Leanna. One was her eternal companion and friend, Bert. The second was her Savior, Jesus Christ and her Father in Heaven. Once she joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, her testimony of the Savior never faltered. She was truly his disciple– she served wherever she was called and did so joyfully and with dedication – Primary President, teacher, scout leader, ministering sister, librarian. She loved and ministered to her neighbors and they in turn, took care of her. She deeply loved her ward family of 60 plus years and laughed, loved and mourned with them.
The third thing, though not the last was her family. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, grandma-great, aunt, sister, and friend. She included everyone into her circle; once you were part of her family, you were always and forever her family.
Following in the steps of her mother and mother-in-law, Leanna kept alive the traditions of family gatherings at Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter. Thanksgiving was at the church and sometimes included over 150 guests as all in-laws, cousins and often friends were invited and made to feel welcome and part of the whole family.
She supported her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in all their endeavors and tried to attend as many of their games and performances as possible. She loved sports of all kinds, from her youngest grandchild’s soccer game to high school, collegiate and professional football, basketball, soccer, wrestling, ice skating, swim, volleyball, and gymnastics. She was an avid sports fan. Some of her favorite teams were the Jazz, BYU football and University of Utah women’s gymnastic teams. She was thrilled to watch Nathan Chen win the gold in figure skating at the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Leanna is survived by her children Linda (Tom) Fairbrother, Kathryn (Rick) Carter, Tamara (Steve) Williams, Vicki (Duane) Sorensen, David (Lohanna) Carlson, Michael (Shaunna) Carlson, Christopher (Brooke) Carlson, 48 grandchildren and 44 great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and extended family. Leanna was proceeded in death by her beloved husband Bert, her parents Ida and Dave Cahn, her in-laws Fern and Carl Carlson, her brother Dudley Collins (Verna), her sisters-in-law Marilyn Mitchell (Bruce) and LaRane Cordova (Joe), her son Carl Edward Carlson, her granddaughter Melissa Smith and her son-in-law Brad Williams.
The family wishes to thank those health specialists who cared for and helped Leanna – Dr. Wendy A. Bryer and Dr. Rachel E. Hu and their onocology teams as well as Dr. Franz M. Monroy; a special thanks to the nurses and staff at Intermountain Medical Center IV Therapy for their hours of service to and compassion for Leanna. Finally thank you to the hospice team who helped to make Leanna’s final days more comfortable.
Services are available for viewing here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83811674605?pwd=VjMrWXlaYVI2V0tMQitSeWMwSEpHdz09
