Susan Linda White Tachka

Susan Linda White Tachka, sweet sister, aunt, and great-aunt passed away peacefully on Monday, October 18, 2021 in Riverton, Utah after a hard battle with dementia.

Susan was born on November 2, 1948 in Long Beach, California to her parents Stanley Harmon White and Evelyn (Sug) Virginia Minor.  She is survived by her sister Kathy Mendenhall (Bob), and brother John White (Dianna) and many cousins, nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews.  Susan was preceded in death by her parents, husband Larry Tachka, and sister Judy Plunkett (Kelly) .

Susan graduated from Long Beach Millikan High School, and received her associate degree from Long Beach City College. Susan always thought of herself as a “California Girl”.  The beach was her “Happy Place” and in her youth she spent a lot of time at the beach with her friends.  She loved living in Southern California where she learned to surf, play tennis and volleyball, and belonged to bowling leagues where she bowled 5 perfect games. She loved golf and watching all golf matches.

Susan met her eternal sweetheart, Larry Tachka, in California and they were married November 21, 1984.  Susan was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and after Larry joined the Church, they were sealed in the Salt Lake City Utah Temple for time and all eternity. 

Susan worked for several years as an office assistant. When she and Larry moved to Provo, Utah she began working at Brigham Young University in the Chemistry Department, which was her favorite job.  After Larry’s passing in Utah in 2006, Susan returned to California to be near her sister Judy, and she worked for the Army Corp of Engineers in Los Angeles.

Susan could be found cheering for her many nieces and nephews at their many sports games and other activities over many years, and in many venues!   She was stalwart in her beliefs and is remembered and loved because of her devotion to her family. 

Susan loved to sing and listen to music. When she was a teenager she performed with the Long Beach Junior Concert Band, an invited all city marching band, where she played the flute, piccolo, and glockenspiel and even marched in the Rose Parade for several years. Susan and Kathy would spend hours listening to 60’s music and church talks and music by The Choir at Temple Square in her final months.

Susan was the shortest in the family, and all of her siblings reminded her of this all the time in good fun. She lived for hamburgers and if you told her she was going out to have a hamburger, her face would light up. She loved everything patriotic and was found wearing red, white and blue all year long. She loved all animals and had many pets throughout her life, and they quickly became her best friends.

We would like to thank the many friends in North Carolina that cared for Susan when she was at Cambridge Village, and those in Utah at The Grand at Holladay, Beehive Homes of Riverton, Canyon Home Care and Hospice and Beehive Senior Care for the wonderful friends they have been, and for their amazing care and love. A very special thank-you to our dear Hepisipa (Hepi) for incredible one-on-one home care her last few weeks.

Susan was loved by all who knew her, and we will greatly miss her presence at our family gatherings. 

A Memorial Service will be held on November 6th at 12:00 p.m. at the Butler Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 7035 Nutree Drive, Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121.  The service will be webcast at  http://mywebcast.churchofjesuschrist.org  Enter Code: 43607. 

Funeral Service Audio