Bernard (Bernie) Tanner

Bernard T. Tanner, (Bernie) age 85, passed away peacefully on January 5, 2025 in his home in Orem, Utah surrounded by his family. He was born on February 24, 1939, to Elsie and Arthur B. Tanner. He was the youngest of 9 children who were raised on a small farm in Kirtland, NM. Bernie loved to help out in his father’s trading post, where he also loved to hunt and fish. Bernie was a great athlete. He played high school football in Kirtland, NM. In high school he was also student body vice president and voted Mr. Central High. After graduating from Kirtland High, he attended Brigham Young University, where he was intramural boxing Champion-Welterweight Division. He later attended Salt Lake Community College where he was student body president and later President of Alumni where he studied art. He was invited to teach art at Salt Lake Community College. Bernie was a very talented artist. Over the years his artwork was shown in galleries and museums throughout the state of Utah and he was featured in several newspaper articles. He was commissioned to paint My Three White Dresses, which was based off a poem written by Linda Gay Perry Nelson. Prints of this painting and poem are sold at Deseret Book. He had many different styles of art, but his favorites were religious paintings. Bernie had many interests and accomplishments. He loved watching sports and was a BYU football fan, he also enjoyed reading and gardening and was a hard worker. He was appointed vice president at Tanner International in charge of the fast foods division. He was responsible for profitable operations of 33 KFC stores in four western states.

Bernie loved the Lord. He was a light to all that knew him, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served in various callings, and it brought him joy in serving others. He loved his family and friends and valued their relationships and the time he spent with them. We have been blessed to have him as a part of our lives and we will miss him.

He was preceded in death by his parents Elsie and Arthur Tanner and brothers and sister. He is survived by his wife Michelle Romney Tanner and their daughter Nikki (Josh) Baer, as well as his 5 children from his first wife, Josephine Tanner Bunker (deceased) RaDawn (Wade) Larsen, Todd (Becky) Tanner, Kurt (Holly) Tanner, Chad (Allyson) Tanner, Cindy (Dan) Collings, 22 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren.

The family will receive friends in his honor from 7-9:00 p.m., Sunday, January 12, 2025 at the Berg Orem Chapel, 500 North State Street, Orem, Utah.
Interment Services will be in Las Vegas, NV, Tuesday, January 14, 2025. Condolences may be extended at www.bergmortuary.com.