LaJuana S. Bastian
1932 – 2024
Salina, Utah – Our beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend, LaJuana Sorensen Bastian, age 92, of Salina, passed away August 17, 2024, in Monroe.
LaJuana was born April 13, 1932, in Mt. Pleasant, Utah to Clayton W. and Wilma Hafen Sorensen. She enjoyed growing up with sisters Charleen, Billie Lou and GeriLyn. LaJuana graduated from North Sevier High School and attended the University of Utah.
On September 11, 1953, she married the love of her life, Arno Dean Bastian in the Manti Utah LDS Temple for time and all eternity. LaJuana created a beautiful and safe home for her family and friends. All who entered her home felt the Lord’s spirit of love, peace, and joy and left being a better person. LaJuana loved to cook and anyone who had the privilege of tasting her meals was truly blessed. She loved holidays and decorating for them with a desire to bring Christ into each season.
LaJuana was a musical talent extraordinaire, having taught piano lessons for many years, accompanied church choirs and many other singing groups and individuals in many different performances. She played the organ and/or piano for Church meetings for over 55 years. She was also a talented singing member of the outstanding quartet “The B Naturals”. The wonderful women in this group were LaJuana, of course, Phylis Tucker, Enid Holt, Madge Wilson and accompanist Sharen Madsen.
LaJuana was a devoted and very active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints and held many positions besides organist and pianist: Ward Primary President, Ward Relief Society President, Stake Primary President, double helpmeet when her dear husband Arno served as Stake President and again as his scribe when he served as Stake Patriarch. She and her dear Arno served a mission to the Philippine Islands where, besides being his companion in the mission work, she continued to be his scribe, for he continued his call as Patriarch there as well! Later they served as ordinance workers in the Manti Utah Temple for 18 years; 3 of those years in the Temple Presidency under President Jack Gosland.
She devotedly cared for her dear Arno through his years of fighting Parkinsons until the Lord took him home on November 6, 2015. Through those hard years, as well as dealing with blindness for many years after, LaJuana always chose to wake up each day with a positive happy attitude and a smile filled with sunshine. And now those eyes see again and her soul is filled with light as she is reunited with her beloved Arno and loved ones on the other side of the veil.
Their children, Dwight (Janice) Bastian of West Jordan, Utah, Bruce (Joyleen) Bastian of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Mark (Lynmarie) Bastian of Greeley, Colorado, and Bonnie (Shayne) McKee of Roosevelt, Utah, 18 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren remain to await an eternal family reunion when the Lord sees fit. She is also survived by her sister, Billie Lou Johnson of Aurora and GeriLyn (Al) Fairbanks of Sandy.
She has been greeted on the other side by her beloved Arno, her parents; a granddaughter, Celeste Bastian; her sister, Charlene Dalton; as well as a host of family and friends.
LaJuana wants her family and friends to know how grateful she is for all the love and help they gave her in these final years. LaJuana would especially like to thank her sister, Billie Lou Johnson, for years of chauffeuring me to hair and Doctor appointments. For checking on me by phone twice a day. For helping me and encouraging me in so many ways. She has been my rock through my final years on earth. She would also like to thank Gordon and Angela Johnson for their years of caring for her yard and home and Janice Porras for her Monday morning visits. LaJuana would also like to express her gratitude to Monroe Canyon Assisted Living, resident Craig Chappell and all those involved there in making her final years such a pleasant and positive experience.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 24, 2024, at 12:00 Noon in the Salina LDS Stake Center, where friends may call for viewing Friday evening from 6 to 8 P.M. or Saturday morning from 10:00 to 11:30 prior to the services.
Live streaming of the services can be found at www.springerturner.com under LaJuana’s obituary about 15 minutes prior to starting time.
Burial will be in the Salina Eastside Cemetery under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield and Salina, Utah.
Online guest book at: www.springerturner.com
Remember Me
By (Deeanna Edwards/Roger Hoffman)
Remember me whenever you see a sunrise,
Remember me whenever you see a star,
Remember me whenever you see a rainbow,
Or woods in autumn colors from afar.
Remember me whenever you see the roses
Or seagulls sailing high in a sky of blue.
Remember me whenever you see waves shining in the sun
And remember I’ll be remembering you.
Remember me whenever you see a teardrop
Or meadows still wet with the morning dew.
Remember me whenever you feel love growing in your heart,
And remember, I’ll be remembering you.
Remember me whenever you feel love growing in your heart,
And remember, I’ll be remembering you.
