Born October 20, 1920 in Provo Utah to Ann Elizabeth Hill and Joseph Robison Hinckley, Florence showed a gift for performing at an early age. She was singing and dancing professionally at 13. It was these gifts which brought her and her future husband, Douglas Hansen, together. A professional trumpet player, Douglas was smitten by the dancer whose mother had to drive her to the club every night. They married in the Salt Lake Temple in April of 1936.[wow! she was only 15 1/2 when she married!]
Florence shared her talents with anyone willing to dance. She choreographed ballroom routines for dance festivals and students at Brigham Young University. In her career with Bob's Big Boy she traveled the world and helped open new restaurants. [she taught all the waitresses and carhops at Bob's Big Boy on Colorado. She was highly prized because of her high standards of hard work and morals. Even "two left feet Dick Callister" sings her praises!]
Florence taught those around her the importance of maintaining your faith and testimony. She chose to be an example by serving with her husband a mission in Nauvoo. After Douglas passed away, Tutu met her second husband, Robert Canaan while working in the Jordan River temple.
Florence is survived by her daughter Christine and nine grandchildren Kari, Kassie, Kandi, David, Wendy, Stephanie, Kyle, Elizabeth, and Carl. While she will be missed by us, we celebrate her reunion with Daddy Doug, Bob, Sandy, Kit, and Douglas who have waited to welcome her home.
Special thanks to the incredible women who cared for her in her last days.
Funeral services will be held Friday June 1 at 1:00 pm at the LDS chapel on 5562 West 13680 South in Riverton Utah. A viewing will be held one hour before the services. Interment will follow at the Spanish Fork City Cemetery.
Brent Frost:
Florence Hansen was one of Bob's Big Boy early employees and when we were in high school she was an executive in the corporate offices. I think she was in charge of training employees, especially waitresses. I remember once a group of LDS kids had breakfast at the Bob's on Colorado. I think you got to go if you met certain requirements in seminary. And Florence was our waitress even though she hadn't waited on tables for many years. When Susan and I got married and moved back into the Glendale Second Ward, Florence was still in the Glendale Fourth Ward. The Hansens later moved to Utah and many years later the last CES director of the Glendale College Institute was a fellow named Bob Canaan and we found out that Florence had married Bob's father after her first husband died.
Burial:
Spanish Fork City Cemetery
Spanish Fork
Utah County
Utah, USA
