Lathair E. Evertsen, 88, passed away peacefully on September 20, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family.
Born on March 4, 1938, to Peter and Zora Evertsen, Lathair grew up in Ogden, Utah, where he developed an adventurous spirit and a lifelong love for the outdoors. He proudly served in the Utah Army National Guard from April 1956 to April 1959 as a Switchboard Operator in a communications unit, earning the rank of PFC, qualifying as a Sharpshooter with the .30 caliber carbine, and receiving an honorable discharge.
A hard worker through and through, Lathair spent his career working as a journeyman roofer and later as a heavy equipment oiler for Arch Mineral Corporation and Barrick Goldstrike. His work ethic and capability took him across the West; after leaving Ogden in 1975, he lived in Conda, Idaho, and Elko, Nevada, before making his long-time home in Hanna, Wyoming, in 2002. In March of 2026, he moved to Syracuse, Utah, to live with his son Richard and daughter-in-law DeVi, where he was surrounded by warmth and family.
Lathair was happily married to the love of his life, Elaine J. Evertsen, for 46 wonderful years before her passing.
To know Lathair; Thair to his family, Lee to his friends, or Papa Peanut; was to know joy, laughter, and an unforgettable story. His fun sense of humor and happy, loving nature defined every room he walked into. An avid outdoorsman, he loved hunting, fishing, boating, camping, gathering firewood, riding horses in his youth, and even rattlesnake hunting, often using firecrackers to coax them out of their holes. His family will forever treasure sitting around him, listening to his endless tales of youth: from nearly drowning in a canal as a boy to the time he fell while on a roof and landed squarely in a bucket of hot tar.
Lathair lived life with courage and vigor. Whether he was cliff diving at Seminoe with kids half his age, guiding Boy Scout troops on tubing and camping trips, or taking family road trips to see American landmarks like Devil’s Tower, Mount Rushmore, Independence Rock, and Yellowstone, he embraced every moment. One of his favorite places to be was on the boat with his grandchildren. He took great delight in driving the boat, waving and laughing with a mischievous grin as he whipped the tube around to send the kids flying into the water.
He is survived by his siblings: brother Gearith (Marlene) Evertsen of Paradise, UT; brother Brent (Susanna) Evertsen of Bedford, WY; and sister Eulalie “Lalie” (Barry) Howard of Pleasant View, ID.
He leaves behind a vast and loving legacy in his children: Richard (Devi) Evertsen of Syracuse, UT; Gary (JoAnn) Evertsen of Spring Creek, NV; Geoffrey Evertsen of Osino, NV; Garth (Theresa) Evertsen of Elko, NV; and Glinda (Robert) Booth of Elk Mountain, WY; along with 12 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandchild, 4 nieces, 6 nephews, and many beloved great-nieces and great-nephews.
Lathair was preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Zora Evertsen; his beloved wife, Elaine J. Evertsen; his brother, Eldred Evertsen, and wife Elli; his granddaughter, Cassie Laine Evertsen; his nephew, Trent Evertsen; his nephew Shane Howard; his niece, Tiffany Sanders; as well as his grandparents, aunts, and uncles.
The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to Valeo Home Health and Hospice Services for the exceptional care they provided. A special thank you to nurses Nicole and Jamie, and CNA Lexie, for their kind, gentle, and compassionate care given to our dad and grandpa. A memorial service to celebrate Lathair’s incredible life will be planned for a later date.
