Lana Gale Holt Esplin

Lana Gale Holt Esplin, born on February 20, 1940, in Phoenix, Arizona, peacefully passed away on July 10, in St. George, Utah. She was the third of six children born to Howard and Verna Burnham Holt: Deon, Gary, Jack, Marilyn, and Jan.

She was married in the St. George, Utah LDS Temple, on March 21, 1959, to her beloved husband of 67 years, Jerry Esplin, whom she called her “one in a million”. Lana remained his steady partner and confidant throughout his career and life. Together they raised five children, instilling in them values of hard work, education, faith, and service.

Lana was a clever girl who excelled academically: skipping a grade, graduating a year early, and heading to LDS Business College by age 17. Lana worked as a Jr. CPA. After starting a family, she helped support them by typing student research papers as Jerry completed his education, and always carefully and wisely managing family finances — while always prioritizing her role as a mother and homemaker.

A devoted matriarch, Lana excelled as a homemaker, mastering the arts of cooking, canning homegrown produce, and sewing. She was a talented seamstress, sewing suit jackets for her husband, clothes for her children, and even sewed her own elegant wedding dress. She had a natural musical talent, learning to play multiple instruments and picking out melodies by ear. Her beautiful alto voice often filled her home, a gift she shared with her children and grandchildren, and with the communities she lived in through her many years singing in community choirs and being asked to perform at numerous events.

Hardworking and a doer by nature, Lana believed there was nothing she could not learn. If she did not know how to do something, she would check out a book from the library and figure it out. With her husband, she helped build their dream cabin in Island Park, Idaho—even wiring and plumbing it herself. She believed anything could be learned with a book and the will to try.

A strong advocate for education, Lana was a driving force in her children’s academic success and personal growth, ensuring they had the support and encouragement to excel. She was immensely proud of her children and grandchildren, celebrating their academic and life successes. One of her great joys was seeing all five of her children serve full-time missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a testament to the faith she helped instill in their lives.

Lana was a devoted and lifelong member of the LDS Church. She served in numerous callings throughout her life and was an early pioneer in church technology. She became the Malad, Idaho Stake’s first computer-based family history consultant, and spent countless hours entering genealogical records into the Church database, helping lay the groundwork for what would become a global effort in preserving family history.

Upon retiring to SunRiver, St. George with her husband, Lana embraced life with newfound vigor. She immersed herself in activities like lawn bowling, even competing in the Huntsman Senior Games. She co-founded the SunRiver Singers and discovered a passion for lapidary work, sharing her expertise by teaching jewelry making. Always ahead of her time, Lana was resourceful and technologically savvy, teaching computer and technology classes to fellow SunRiver seniors. She was always willing to help seniors in her community, freely sharing her expertise.

Her legacy of love, service, initiative, pursuit of education, and musical talent lives on and continues to inspire her family and all who were fortunate enough to know her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Verna Holt; siblings Gary Holt, Jack Holt, and Marilyn Jones; and sister-in-law Diane Holt. She is survived by her husband, Jerry Esplin; her children: Jayson Esplin (Aundrea), Tim Esplin (Robyn), Todd Esplin (Sharla), Tamber Rosevall (Mark), and Tara Esplin; her siblings: Deon Holt of Tucson, AZ; Jan (Sam) Larson of St. George, UT; sisters-in-law: Joyce Draper and Kaye Holt, both of St. George; foster siblings Emma Lynn, Lillie Touchin, Barbara, and Alice; as well as 20 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, which provides support, services, and education to individuals and families affected by Alzheimer's and related dementias. They also fund research for better treatment and a cure.

The family would like to express their deep gratitude to the caring staff at The Retreat at SunRiver and Mission Hospice. Their kindness, compassion, and attentive care brought great comfort to Lana and her family in her final days.

Graveside services will be held at 10:30am on Friday, July 18, 2025 at the Orderville Cemetery, 211 S. Center St. Orderville, UT 84758. Later that afternoon there will be a Celebration of Life at 3:00pm at the Sun River LDS Chapel, 4461 Country Club Dr. St. George, UT 84790.