Vivian Dalley

Vivian Dalley passed away in Bountiful, Utah, on a golden fall day, the kind she loved, November 5, 2025. She was 98 years old. Mom was born on June 6, 1927, in McCormick, Utah, to John Hansen and Vadious (Westover) Hansen. She was the third of six children, three brothers and two sisters. She was the oldest girl.

Her family were farmers during the Depression, moving frequently as tenant farmers to places such as Hesperia, Redlands, and Hemet, California, finally returning to Fillmore, Utah. The family endured drought and flood on top of the general economic malaise. Her family valued education, and she did well in school but also worked hard on the farms. Those years left their mark on her personality. She was stoic, persevering, resilient, and frugal. But she was always very reserved and cautious in new environments.

Once she wasn’t quite so reserved, and we are all grateful. While living in Fillmore, she met a handsome “older” boy from down the road in Beaver. Mom always knew what she wanted, was headstrong and single-minded. It wasn’t long before Mom and our Dad, Albert Haddock, were married. Soon thereafter their new family was separated, like so many others, while Dad served as an Army Air Force pilot in World War II. During these years, Mom was blessed to become close with Dad’s Aunt Hortense Park. Along with her own daughter Barbara, Grandma Tense had raised Dad and his siblings, who were orphaned at an early age. Mom and Barbara developed a bond of sisterhood as tight as any forged of blood. Mom and Dad’s letters and pictures from those early years tell of a wonderful and determined love story. Two sons, Rod and Rand, were born in Cedar City, Utah in those early years.

After the war, Mom continued her nomadic ways while dad was a Utah Highway Patrolman assigned to Cedar City, Murray, Magna and Grantsville. In 1955, the family looked west to California for job opportunities and settled in Ontario, California, which then was an idyllic town surrounded by orange groves and vineyards, far removed from the hustle of Los Angeles. In 1958, the youngest son Rich joined the family. All was peaceful and happy in Ontario until Mom became truly acquainted with sorrow at the young age of 36, when her husband Albert passed away.

As a widow with limited education, Mom did all she could to keep the family afloat. She worked two jobs and took in laundry and did housekeeping. During this time there were some earthly angels that helped her get through it, and she never forgot it. Their goodness also shaped her future.

In 1965, mom married Julius Dalley, who was likewise widowed. They stayed in Ontario until 1970, when he was transferred to Ridgecrest, California. Mom remained there, in the old white and blue house on Las Flores Street for 44 years. Ridgecrest was simply home for mom. It is where she formed her deepest friendships and felt safe, secure and loved. She loved the desert and mountains, and she loved the people. In Ridgecrest, she tried to return earlier blessings she had received from others, by serving others relentlessly. She served twice as a foster parent or guardian for friends in difficult circumstances. She and Julius also cared for our Grandma Hansen for the last several years of her life. Mom and Julius enjoyed 42 loving, caring and supportive years together until his passing in 2007. They were a blessing to each other. They especially enjoyed the simple outdoor activities, with frequent drives up the canyons of the Sierras, to the lakes, or just rides across dirt tracks of the desert. They especially loved the older generations of their families and their siblings and cousins and would travel regularly to Utah, to “visit”, announced or unannounced, which meant talking until the wee hours of the morning, about the old times, family and all that ailed the world.

Mom was a great wife, mother, and homemaker. Her cooking skills were superb. She taught her children sometimes with words, but more often with deeds. Words didn’t always come easily for her. She taught her children to work hard. She taught us the value of being educated, even though her own formal education had been cut short. She was, in fact, incredibly intelligent. She sought out and gave us opportunities to learn and grow, from sports and outdoor activities to intense, advanced learning activities. She created a warm and cozy home, filled with old furniture and other heirloom artifacts that had sentimental beauty. And whether it was that sentimentality or her frugality, it seemed she made everything last forever. She was headstrong, and she taught each of us to be headstrong like her.

Mom was a woman of faith. Though acquainted with sorrow, she was thankful to God for every day of life and she rarely complained about the knocks of life. She was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She loved to worship in the temple, mostly Los Angeles, which was a long trip from Ridgecrest but one she did often. She stayed overnight to do more work and make each drive count. She served in many callings, including Stake Relief Society Presidencies and Primary Presidencies for many years. She practiced her natural leadership qualities, which she had never been formally taught. She served in her callings in a diligent and humble way.

In 2014, conceding that old age was upon her, Mom finally left her beloved Ridgecrest and moved to Bountiful, Utah, to be closer to family. She stayed amazingly healthy and independent for years thereafter. She would continue to drive back and forth to California on her own until well into her nineties. She finally gave up her car keys at age 96. These last few years have been hard for her as her health declined, and her mobility became limited, making her homebound and forcing her to rely on others for service. The family is grateful to wonderful ministering brothers and sisters that served her so well and patiently. True to her resolute nature, she fought for every day of life, right to her last breath.

Vivian is survived by her sons Rand and Rich (Cherie), her 12 grandchildren, her great-grandchildren, her sister Donna Ogle, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husbands Albert and Julius, her son Rod, her parents, Grandma Tense, Barbara Patterson, her siblings Ivan, Rulon, Stanley and Colleen, and many other dear friends and relatives. We are joyous for the reunions that she is now enjoying and the long anticipated ancestral introductions, including with our Grandma and Grandpa Haddock.

The family also wished to express our appreciation to her caregivers from Oak Ridge and from Inspiration Hospice: Tasha, Ember, Alaina, Chenoa, Alysha and Jamie and others, who have helped make her final months more comfortable.

As she has requested, a simple graveside service will be held at noon, Saturday, November 22, 2025, at the Mountain View Cemetery in Beaver, Utah. She will be laid to rest next to her husband Albert.