HERMANSEN, MERRILL LAWRENCE, May 11, 1922 – June 7, 2004

Judge Merrill Lawrence Hermansen went to be where his heart was, with his sweet wife, Jean, on June 7, 2004 after a brief illness. Merrill was born May 11, 1922 in Fountain Green, Utah to Lawrence Hermansen and Sarah Jane Allred. He married Jean LaVelle Pehrson in the Salt Lake LDS Temple in 1947.

Merrill received his Associates of Accounting Degree at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting at the University of Utah. Merrill and his wife, Jean, taught school at Malad High School in Malad, Idaho. He received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Utah Law School. He practiced law in Manti and served as Ephraim City Attorney. He was appointed to serve as the first Orem City Judge in 1964. Judge Hermansen was appointed to the Fourth District Juvenile Court in May of 1969, where he served until her retired in 1992. He served as Senior Judge for nine years after his retirement.

Merrill was a member of the Utah Bar Association, Kiwanis Club and served as president of both Kiwanis and the Golden Keys. He served on the Prisident’s Council for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, in Washington D.C. under President Ronald Reagan. Was a member of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.

Merrill was an avid reader; he enjoyed attending Great Books Club meetings; he and jean enjoyed their membership in Dancing Friends and the Dale Carnegie courses.

Merrill was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in many positions including Elder’s Quorum, Sunday School, as Bishop of a BYU married student ward, and on many high councils. He and jean served a one year mission to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida where they ran the mission office.

Merrill and Jean adopted five children: Marjorie Eldard (John), Orem; Merri-Jean Brown (Kelly, deceased), Orem; Marie Sidonie (Mark Karaffa), Dallas, TX; Lawrence (Bonnie), Boise, ID; Carl (Jennifer), Heber City. They have 16 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Merrill was preceded in death by his parents; his loving wife, Jean; a granddaughter Shelly Lee, and son-iin-law Kelly.

Funeral services will be held June 11, 2004 in the Timp 5th Ward, Orem. Interment will be in the Orem City Cemetery.