Phyllis Hanchett

Phyllis Hanchett

August 4, 1925 ~ July 20, 2017

Phyllis Hanchett, long time Minidoka County resident, passed away on July 20, 2017 in Ogden, Utah. Phyllis was born on August 4, 1925 in Sherwood, Oregon to Mabel and Don Snyder. She was their only child. Phyllis moved to Tulelake, California in junior high school she met the handsome senior who would become her husband for over 50 years, Aurel Hanchett. Phyllis completed high school in Tulelake and attended collage at the University of Nevada for three years until her Marine returned from the war. They were married on June 16, 1946 in Tulelake.

In 1956 they drew a homestead in the Minidoka Project where they lived for the next 58 years. They and hundreds of other families developed farms and a community grew. These families had children who needed classrooms and teachers. Phyllis became a second grade teacher at Paul Elementary. Each summer she drove round trip to Pocatello to complete her bachelors degree at ISU – went on to complete her masters degree, and only stopped when she was within her few courses of finishing a doctoral degree. Phyllis taught in Minidoka County Schools for 37 years.

As an English teacher, Phyllis was committed to preparing her students with the knowledge of proper English, in both speaking and writing. She sought to impart solid skills so that her students would never be disadvantaged because of poor use of the English language. To that end, Phyllis was a guardian of grammar gently reminding her students, children, and husband. Phyllis was known for her encouragement of students who did not believe higher education was an option in their future. She promoted junior college, helped students with their applications, and assisted in finding scholarship opportunities. Her students often returned to thank her after graduating from college.

In addition to being a dedicated educator, Phyllis was active in her community, developing lifelong friendships with other homesteading families. She was a member of the 57 Desert Dozen, Eastern Star, and the Burley Presbyterian Church.

Preceded in death by her husband Aurel, she is survived by her two children, Carol Lay-Abramovitz (Michael), Denver, CO, and Keith Hanchett (Kathy), Ogden, Utah, four grandchildren, Chase and Connor Hanchett, Ali Abramovitz, Jonathan Lay (Cecelia), and great-granddaughter, Carmen.

The family would like to thank Mountain Ridge Assisted Living and Memory Care Center, for the kindness and care shown to our mother while she resided there. Also, the family would like to extend a very special thank you to Comfort Hospice for end of life care.

Phyllis Hanchett’s final contribution was donation of her brain to the Gift of Life program, Center for Alzheimer’s Care, Imaging and Research at the University of Utah.

The family suggests memorials be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association for the University of Utah’s Gift to Life research program. Contributions can be made online or mailed to University of Utah Alzheimer’s Center, 650 Komas Dr. #106-A, Salt Lake City UT 84108-1225 or Alzheimer’s Association, Attn: Donor Services, 6126 W. State St. Suite 305, Boise, ID 83703.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, August 5, 2017 at 11 a.m. in the chapel of Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 East 16th St,, Burley, ID.

A Reception will follow immediately after at the Burley Inn, 800 North Overland Ave, Burley, Idaho.

Arrangements entrusted to Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary.