Sept. 29, 1933-June 30, 2024
VanDyne Seegmiller Wilson of Hurricane, Utah, passed away on June 30, 2024, in her home at the age of 90 from the effects of a stroke. VanDyne was born on Sept. 29, 1933, to Paul and Edith Seegmiller. She was the sixth of nine children. She married Wayne Kent Wilson on Feb. 20, 1953. They had six children and lived most of their lives in Southern Utah. As Mom would say, “I was born and raised in St. George, but I didn’t grow up there. I’m still working on it.”
VanDyne’s early childhood in St. George was spent simply, enjoying the outdoors, friends and life in general. The family grew their own vegetables, raised animals, bottled food, made their own clothes and worked hard for all they had. She walked everywhere and would often walk from her home to Santa Clara to visit friends and get into mischief. She had a beautiful singing voice. As a teenager, she was asked to sing a solo from the St. George Temple balcony on Easter morning for the community. She also sang on the radio and at many other venues. She grew up loving music and laughter and their home was filled with both, along with a lot of teasing. She had lots of beautiful freckles and was named the freckle queen in the second grade.
VanDyne attended elementary through high school in St. George then went on to Dixie College. She married Kent and they soon moved to Georgia and then Texas while he served in the Air Force. VanDyne was an exemplary military wife. After four years of service, they returned to Southern Utah to raise their family of six children. Mom was a busy homemaker, making matching dresses, quilting, bottling fruit and serving others. Having four children in four years meant a lot of work, chaos and fun.
VanDyne worked as a secretary for Washington County School District for many years. She had a love of learning and after retirement, she never sat idle. She took her first art class at the age of 63 and never stopped learning new techniques and honing her skills. She was an incredible artist, but she was always humble about her abilities. She was able to teach art classes in the community as well as teaching many of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren some of her craft. She went back to school at the age of 65 to become a massage therapist and blessed her family with her healing hands. VanDyne loved adventure and staying fit. She hiked, biked, clogged, square-danced, went white-water rafting on the Colorado River and went to the gym four or five days a week until the day of her stroke. She has inspired her posterity to be active and take care of themselves and enjoy life to the fullest. She was an avid reader and especially enjoyed studying the scriptures and the life of Jesus Christ.
Mom’s greatest joy was her family. She was always loving, kind, accepting and generous. She would always make time for anyone who needed a listening ear or advice, and she had the best advice. There was never a reason to doubt her love or her sincerity for any of her family. She was truly Christ-like. She was a valiant disciple of Jesus Christ and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
VanDyne is survived by her children, Karl (Melanie), Tana (Kelly) Murie, Toni Heaton, Terry (Brent) Langston, Kurt (Anabel) and Tacy Wright; 27 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and sisters Clo Jensen, Diane Peterson and Linda Beatty. She is preceded in death by her husband Kent Wilson; siblings Fayone Whitehead, Paul Seegmiller, Foy Seegmiller, Tana Sullivan and Janet Gubler; grandson Corey Merlyn Holt; daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Wilson; and sons-in-law Ray Heaton and Brandon Wright.
The family would like to thank Enhabit Hospice nurses Josi and Coco, as well CNAs Ali, Demie and Cyvanna for their kind and tender care of our mother, and Serenity Mortuary for services rendered.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 6, at 11 a.m. at the LDS Red Brick Chapel at 274 S. 100 W., Hurricane, Utah. A viewing will be held from 9-10:45 a.m. prior to the service at the same location. The interment will be held at the City of LaVerkin Cemetery.
Click here to view services via Zoom: Meeting ID: 981 6469 0540; Passcode: 169991.
Family and friends are invited to click here to share tributes online. Arrangements and memorial tree planting by Serenity Funeral Home of Southern Utah, 435-986-9100.