Elden "Arlyn" Tanner

Mar. 18, 1934 - Jun. 29, 2026

Date of Service: Jul. 10, 2026

PAUL – Elden “Arlyn” Tanner, a 92-year-old resident of Paul, passed away peacefully at his daughter’s home in Perry, Utah on Monday, June 29, 2026.

He was born on March 18, 1934, in Burley, Idaho to Elden and May Tanner. He was the youngest of three children, and the only boy. He had a fun childhood playing games like kick-the-can with his friends. They also enjoyed swimming in the canals, building tree huts, and making tree swings. In junior high, he was on the football team and started playing the trombone. He attended Burley High School, where he was part of the orchestra, pep band, and marching band. He was class president, lettered as both a cheerleader and in track and field, and penned a column for the school newspaper called “Tips for Teens.”

After he finished high school, he joined the Navy and served on a mine sweeper during the Korean conflict. He took some basic electric classes in boot camp, so after his four years of military service, he pursued a career in electrical work, which he kept up for over 60 years.

He could fix anything. He was able to think outside the box and come up with a creative solution for any problem. He built a lot of things out of wood. He used to cut out toys and crafts with a saw and Vonda would paint them. He could never sit still and was always puttering around in the yard, trimming trees, fixing something, or doing a project around the house. Arlyn loved to go hunting with his mom and dad and his daughter, Deanna. He also loved to fish.

He was extremely kind and patient and lived a life full of service. He will be remembered for his Christ-like example and dearly missed by those who knew and loved him.

He is survived by his daughter, Deanna (Bob) Okun of McLean, VA; his stepdaughters, Lisa Rupard of Elephant Butte, New Mexico; Bobbie (Jay) Edwards of Bellevue, ID; Monica (Bruce) Thacker of Jerome, ID; his daughter, Miranda (Jason) Roberts of Perry, UT; and his sister VaLoy Henderson of Caldwell, ID. He also leaves behind 15 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren, all of whom he adored.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Vonda; his parents, Elden and May Tanner; his sister, Ada Knocke; his stepson, Kim Rupard; his stepdaughter, Bonnie Morrow; and his grandson, Dusty Edwards.

The family would like to express heartfelt thanks to all the people from hospice in Burley and Brigham City. They were all ministering angels to Arlyn and his family.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 10, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – Paul Stake Center, located at 424 W. Ellis St., in Paul, with Bishop David Phillips officiating. Burial will follow at Paul Cemetery, where military rites will be provided by the Mini-Cassia Veterans Group.

Family and friends will be received from 5 until 7 p.m. Thursday, July 9, at Hansen Mortuary, located at 710 6th Street in Rupert, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. prior to the service at the church on Friday.

A live webcast of the Funeral Service will be available and maintained at the following link: https://youtu.be/xxnMn4_Xs18.