Gilbert Einar Stenersen Hall

Gilbert Einar Stenersen Hall passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by loving family, following a battle with cancer, on Saturday, March 24, 2018.  He will be remembered for his kindness, service, and devotion to family. 

Born on January 10, 1933 to Emil Gilbert Harry Hall and Astrid Lydia Stenersen, he spent his childhood in Sugarhouse, and later East Millcreek.  In 1944, he moved into the Valley View First Ward, and would remain a member of the ward for life.  His youth was highlighted by scouting and frequent fishing and camping trips to the Uinta Mountains with his Norwegian grandfather.  He is survived by all of his siblings, with whom he shared a childhood of hard work and mischief on the Hall family chicken farm:  Gladys Irene Hall Reseigh, Stanley Roger Hall, Dennis Reed Hall, and Judith Vanet Hall Jones. 

He graduated from Granite High School in 1951, after which he enlisted in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War.  He served for four years on radar ships, posted in South Carolina, Texas, and California.  After his honorable discharge from the Navy, he was called as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and served for three years in Stockholm, Sweden.  For Einar, this was a symbolic homecoming to Scandinavia, as his father was born in Goteborg, Sweden, and his mother in Oslo, Norway.  His fondness for Sweden was a defining part of his personality, and he was thrilled to return to Stockholm after retirement to serve another mission.   

Following his time in Sweden, he turned to higher education at the University of Utah.  He ultimately graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, but also enjoyed learning about history and botany in his elective classes.  These interests continued throughout his life, through his gardening and travels to historic sites.  After he graduated, he began work in the defense industry as an accountant and worked for several different corporations, before retiring from L-3 in 1997.  Throughout his career, he was relied upon as a team member in classified government aeronautics projects.  

In 1964, he fell in love with LaPrele Heninger of Logan, Utah.  He married his eternal sweetheart on February 19, 1965.  Their son Steven Einar was born in 1970, and their daughter Karen in 1973.  Einar’s devotion to his family never wavered, and he was a caring husband throughout his life.  He loved being a father and spending time with Steven and Karen.  Anyone meeting Einar would quickly learn about the pride he felt for his children, and later for his beloved grandchildren:  Amanda, Jenna, and Spencer.   

Throughout his life, he served in many callings in the LDS church, notably as bishop of the Valley View First Ward from 1988 to 1993, but in many other leadership positions on the ward and stake level as well.  He most enjoyed his time working with the youth, and generations of children growing up in the ward were blessed by his service and sense of fun.  All of the young children in the neighborhood and extended family knew to knock on his door because he always had a box of “creamies” popsicles to share with them.  He frequently returned to the Uinta Mountains on scouting trips and youth conferences, echoing the time he spent there with his grandfather as a boy.  Einar loved the mountains.   

In 1997, he and his wife LaPrele moved to Vasterhaninge, Sweden to serve as temple missionaries in the Stockholm, Sweden LDS temple.  This was the first of four full time missions that they served together.  They served again in Kirtland, Ohio and in Nauvoo, Illinois where he was the mailman of historic Nauvoo—a position that perfectly fit his friendly and outgoing personality.   They also served a mission in Salt Lake City as assistants to the Temple Translation Department.  While there, they helped facilitate the translation of the LDS temple ceremony into many different languages.  Given his inherent friendliness and interest in other people, these missions were an opportunity for him to remain happy and vital well into his retirement.    

While much could be said about his life accomplishments, Einar was never very impressed with “this world’s goods.”  He lived his life with a strong sense of decency, kindness, and humility.  He was funny, intelligent, and frugal.  He loved God, he loved his church, and he loved his family.  He was a profoundly good man who was unfailingly friendly and kind.  He will be deeply missed.

He is survived by his wife LaPrele Heninger Hall, their son Steven Einar Hall, daughter Karen Hall, daughter-in-law Julie Taylor Hall, grandchildren Amanda Lydia, Jenna Lee, and Spencer Taylor Hall, as well as his siblings and a very large extended family. 

Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 29, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the Valley View First Ward (2000 E. and 3900 S.).  Viewings will be held Wednesday evening at the Holbrook Mortuary (3251 S. 2300 E.) from 7-9 p.m. and at the church Thursday morning from 9:30-10:30 a.m. prior to the service.  Einar will be buried at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.