March 13, 1927-July 15, 2022
Iva Deaun Christensen Bishop was born March 13, 1927, in Ephraim, Utah, to Seymour and Iva Larsen Christensen. She was the fifth of six children. She passed away July 15, 2022, in Washington, Utah, at the age of 95.
Deaun grew up in a loving family that valued education and hard work. She spent summers with her sister, Nola, alone tending the sheep.
Deaun’s formal education began at Snow College, as the elementary grades were housed at the college then. By the time she graduated from Snow High School, World War II had taken its toll and there were very few boys left in her graduating class. She worked at the parachute plant in Manti the summer after graduation and it was then that the war came to an end.
Deaun went back to Snow College in the fall, this time it was to really attend college. It was in her second year that she met and dated Lars Bishop from Hinckley, Utah, who was preparing for his LDS mission to Denmark.
Upon graduation from Snow College, Deaun heard from her father that if she were “waiting” for a missionary, they would let her go on a mission a little earlier than the normal age of 21. So she wrote to Lars to ask him if this was OK with him. Although he hadn’t seriously considered whether a marriage would take place, he prayed to find out if he should marry her. He wrote back telling her to go on her mission. She then served in the Fresno, California, LDS Mission. It was a source of irritation to her, however, for the rest of her life, that Lars would always tell people she had proposed to him.
After she returned from her mission, she went on to finish her education in Home Economics at Utah State Agricultural College.
After their marriage and Lars’ graduation from Utah State, they moved to Payson, Utah, where Lars was hired to teach for the LDS Church Educational System. During his tenure, they were asked to serve as Assistant Directors for Semester Abroad in Jerusalem, Israel; and CES Instructors to Tonga, and Nigeria, Africa. They later returned to serve an LDS mission to Nigeria as well.
After the birth of her two children, Deaun found that she wouldn’t be able to have all the children she longed for. So she decided to gather in other children along the way. In all, she ended up mothering six children who call her name blessed.
Deaun was active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints her entire life serving faithfully and well in any calling she received. She was a temple worker for over 19 years in the St. George Temple, serving under eight presidencies. One of her choicest experiences was being able to serve as a worker in the Aba, Nigeria, temple for one day after its dedication. She spent over 20 years writing family histories for herself and her ancestors. Her quiet, soft-spoken manner didn’t hinder her outward, bold discipleship of her Lord.
Deaun was a talented artist and seamstress. She played the violin and did many beautiful hand-worked items for the temple, her posterity and neighbors.
Deaun is preceded in death by her husband Lars, parents and siblings: Gwenneth, Kent, Sarah Marie and Bruce; granddaughter Navy Bishop. She is survived by: sister, Nola Jones; and her children: Brent (Jill) Bishop, Jennett (Clark) Labrum, Verna (Darrel) Hansen, Bessie Tsinigine, Tongoi (Tiaira) Eneri, and Alex (Kristen) Ituma, 32 grandchildren and 79 great-grandchildren
A memorial service will be held Aug. 20, in the Foremaster Chapel at 912 S 1740 E St. George, Utah, at 11 a.m. A gathering for friends and family will start at 9:30 a.m.
Burial took place at the Payson, Utah, Cemetery on July 2.