Merna B. Conover

Cedar Hills, Utah – Merna B. Conover, 86, died peacefully in her sleep on Friday, January 14, 2022. She was born on July 25, 1935, during the Great Depression to Norman and Opal Andersen in Huntington, Utah.  She was the oldest of six children.  Merna spent her childhood on the family farm, milking cows, tending chickens and calves, and even driving the tractor during hay-bailing season.  When she went to primary classes, she sometimes rode a horse to the church building.

Merna went on her first date with Robert A. Conover on Halloween Day in 1952.  They attended a high school dance that night and then watched a movie together in the balcony of the theater in Price, Utah, where Bob fell asleep.  After high school, Merna and Bob maintained a long-distance relationship while she attended and graduated from LDS Business College, and Bob studied at the Milwaukee School of Engineering in Wisconsin.  They married on September 23, 1955 in the Salt Lake City Temple and together returned to Wisconsin where Bob continued his studies.  Merna worked as a legal secretary to help support them until Bob graduated in 1958.

Merna and Bob raised six children (Wayne, Karen, Jeff, Connie, Paul, and Nate) in Tujunga, California, where they lived for nearly 60 years.  Merna had a life-long love of playing the piano.  She taught hundreds of children to play the piano in her home.  Merna’s faith as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints defined her life.  She was a kind and compassionate teacher and servant.  She held many callings, including serving as Primary, Young women, and Relief Society President, as well as a senior missionary with Bob in the Finland Helsinki Mission and as a temple ordinance worker in the Los Angeles Temple for many years.

Merna is survived by Bob and five of their children, Karen, Jeff, Connie, Paul, and Nate.  She certainly had a joyous reunion this week with her parents and with her son, Wayne, who passed away in 2017.  Merna and Bob have 22 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Merna’s viewing will be held on Saturday, January 22, 2022, at 10 am, followed by her funeral at 11 am, both at the Stake Center at 4580 West Cedar Hills Drive, Cedar Hills, Utah.

For those wishing to attend services virtually, please use the following link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQATCjC1BqF4x5PZl3zDMIL6uE-4mSao8