Elleen Dearden Hicken

Elleen Dearden Hicken died January 19, 2023, surrounded by friends and family in North Ogden, Utah. She was 94 years old.

Born on May 2, 1928, to LaVern and Mary Gladys Dearden in Henefer, Utah, Elleen was most noted for her musical talent and strong testimony of Jesus Christ. She often said she lived to serve others and did so. She attended school in Henefer, Utah, and Evanston, Wyo. where she learned to love reading and writing. The family moved in 1946 to Hailstone, Utah, and Elleen attended Wasatch High School, where she met the love of her life, JErrol Addison Hicken. After graduation in 1947, she placed as a queen’s attendant for the Days of ‘47 celebration.

Elleen and JErrol married shortly afterward on August 13, 1947, in the Salt Lake City Temple. They soon moved to Kearns, where she worked part time for Mountain Bell Telephone as an operator. Later they moved to Rexburg, Idaho, where she worked at Ricks College as the Periodical Section and Children’s Section Librarian for 20-plus years before retiring to Kaysville, Utah.

Elleen’s father and mother inspired her to reach great heights in music, and by her junior high years she was noted and honored for her vocal talents. In Evanston, she and her parents performed in LDS wards and conferences and in community events. She was made Sunday School chorister at age 14. During a regional conference, she told of meeting President Heber J. Grant, who complimented her performance. As a senior she competed and took First Place in a vocal competition at Brigham Young University. Once, Elleen was asked to direct a Primary choir in the Tabernacle for a General Primary Conference. She performed in community theater musicals as an adult and conducted the music in her wards and stakes for many years until she was released at age 89.

Elleen always put her family first and believed the family was eternal. She ardently lived the gospel of Jesus Christ, serving in many ward and stake callings, including a mission to Uganda with JErrol in 1992 where they were one of two couples who opened that country to missionary work. They also served in the LDS Bountiful Temple and the LDS Church Employment Services in Layton.

Elleen was preceded in death by her husband, daughter Karin M. Smith, son-in-law Michael J. Hansen, granddaughter Maddie Mae Hansen, grandson Matthew David Hicken, brother Blaine Beard Dearden, and sister Joyce Seare. She is survived by her children, Kristine Hansen, Jerroleen (Clifford) Sorensen, John Errol (Robie) Hicken, Robert William (Christine) Hicken, David Addison (Teresa) Hicken, Maryann (Greg) Poole, and Bethann (Danny) Roth, brother Alvin (Judy) Dearden, sister-in law Guadalupe Dearden, and brother-in-law Roswell Seare. She has 40 grandchildren, 84 great-grandchildren, and 17 great-greatgrandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 28, at 10:00 a.m. at the Kaysville 11th Ward building, 500 South Main Street in Kaysville. Friends may visit with family Friday at the Kaysville Lindquist’s Mortuary, 400 N. Main St. from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 to 9:30 at the church.

Interment- Heber City Cemetery at 2:00 p.m.

Services will be live-streamed by going to www.lindquistmortuary.com  and scrolling to the bottom of Elleen’s obituary page.

Sincere thanks to the staff of The Lodge in North Ogden, and special thanks to Carly Sotelo of South Davis Home Health

ORDER VIDEOS