Lauralee Lundahl Ercanbrack

Lauralee Lundahl Ercanbrack

August 4, 1927 - January 17, 2024

Lauralee Lundahl Ercanbrack, 96, of Provo, passed away Wednesday, January 17, 2024. Born August 4, 1927, in Logan, Utah, to Ezra C. Lundahl and Leatha Lee Lundahl, Lauralee enjoyed a full and rewarding life while outliving her entire immediate family. She was preceded in death by her parents, her older brother (Cordell), two younger sisters (Palma and Julie), younger brother (Jim), her beloved husband of  70 years, S. Keith Ercanbrack, and one sweet granddaughter, Darci. She is survived by her six children: Taunalee (Rulon) Homer, Julianne (Ned) Larson, S. Scott (Gaye Ann) Ercanbrack, Morgan K. (Cindy) Ercanbrack, Marylynn Ercanbrack, Lance L. (Lora) Ercanbrack, 32 grandchildren and 77 great-grandchildren.

Lauralee cultivated a complete and busy life, always participating in school, community, and church activities. During her high school years at Logan High, she was on the swim team and participated in the ROTC program through the 1943-45 war years. In 1944 she was elected Junior Prom Queen. After graduating and continuing her education at Utah State, she stayed involved with the community, being chosen as the Cache County Centennial Queen in 1947. She was the apple of many a boy’s eye, having numerous interested suitors until the boy from Provo, who was also attending USU, stole her heart. She and S. Keith Ercanbrack courted, committed to each other, and were married in the Logan Temple on Dec. 17, 1947. When Keith graduated from USU and was accepted into Iowa State for his doctoral program, Lauralee gladly moved with him to Ames, Iowa. She continued and completed her bachelor's work, graduating from Iowa State College in 1949 with a degree in Home Economics Education while pregnant with her first child. When Keith graduated, they returned to Provo (having expanded their family to three children), living there until 1957 when Keith accepted a job at the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station in Dubois, Idaho.

This began a new chapter in Lauralee’s life. Raising her eventually six children kept her busy, as did her many church callings, including Relief Society president and early morning seminary teacher. Once the children were old enough, she accepted a full-time teaching position at Clark County High School in Dubois. She was a beloved and versatile teacher, mentoring students in English, PE, or math, but her finest achievement was creating a wondrous, and legendary, home economics program. Beloved by girls and boys alike, delighting the entire community with fashion shows, culinary treats, homemade quilts, and four-star meals, home economics with Mrs. E. was simply the best!

In 1992 Keith and Lauralee both retired and moved back to Provo, which left them free to pursue their next projects of love and service. They served faithfully as Provo temple workers for the ensuing twenty-four years. Lauralee served in the Relief Society presidency and even taught Sunbeams! They found time to take the family to church history sites, Israel, Guatemala, and even Alaska (once Keith had passed because he didn’t need or want a cruise!) God, family, and church were always the things that mattered most to Lauralee. Her bright smile and quick interest always drew people to her because they instinctively knew that she loved them. She was a true Christ-like servant and example: caring, loving, thoughtful, generous, charitable, and faithful. She will truly be missed by all who knew her.

The family wishes to express appreciation for all the loving care given by the staff and caregivers at Jamestown Assisted Living, and the truly exceptional labor of love offered by the APlus hospice workers, especially Carol and Celia.

Funeral Services will be held Friday, January 26, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. in the Pleasant View 1st Ward LDS Chapel, located at 650 Stadium Avenue, Provo, Utah. The family will receive friends from 10:30 a.m - 12:30 p.m. prior to the service. Interment will be beside her beloved husband in the Provo City Cemetery.

Condolences for the family may be expressed on this page.

For those unable to attend the services they will be streamed starting at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, January 26 via Facebook Live at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/sundbergolpinfuneralhome/videos/1551508832355170