Mike W Hatch

“Still are the keys . . . . Silenced is the music . . . . that filled our home, and the hearts of many, over the years.”

Our Dad, Mike W Hatch, passed away of natural causes on May 1, 2023, at the age of 92. He was born April 8, 1931, in Kelly, Idaho, the second of five sons of Asa Foulds Hatch and Emma Elizabeth (Whitworth) Hatch.

He attended North Gem Schools in Bancroft, Idaho. His childhood was filled with creative play in wide open spaces, balanced with chores and responsibilities as he and his brothers helped their parents run a farm. He enjoyed school and was a dedicated student, was very active in sports, as well as drama, music/band (played cornet) and was student body president his junior year. He was a senior in high school when his older brother, Don, unexpectedly passed away.

Dad attended Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho before serving a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Central States Mission (Dec 1950-Dec 1952). He received a military draft notice in the last months of his mission to report for military service in January 1953. He wasn’t about to take any chances of losing the girl he loved, so proposed to his childhood sweetheart, Donna Hogan, within days of getting off his mission.

Oh, how Dad loved telling the story of falling in love with Mother the very first time he saw her standing shyly outside their first-grade classroom as a new student at his school. From writing notes to her in elementary grades, to a single date each year of high school (he took her to class dances), there were many times he didn’t think he’d win her heart. But he persisted and dreamed, Donna meant the world to him! It was his dream come true when they were married and sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple on August 5, 1953, while on an arranged leave from his military service.

Married life began in Olympia, Washington where Dad was stationed at Fort Lewis, working as Company Clerk in the Quartermaster Company of the 44th Infantry Division. As the Korean conflict ended, he received an honorable discharge in Dec. 1954 and returned to Rexburg to continue his schooling. He served as student body president his junior year, the year Ricks switched from a four to a two-year school. He then transferred to Utah State University where he completed his bachelor’s degree. About ten years later, he graduated from the University of Utah with a master’s in political science.

Dad and Mom became the parents of five children - four sons and one daughter. The Idaho farm, the homestead where Dad was born, was their family hub for many years. Summers on the farm often included cousins and friends joining the family as pipe movers and farm hands. Days full of hard work, plenty of youthful shenanigans, and a whole lot of fun, were always combined with wise tutelage from Dad/Grandpa/Uncle Mike.

As our family grew, we made wonderful friends everywhere we lived. From Chesterfield, we spent a short time in Grace, Idaho, went back to the farm when Dad’s younger brother, Clair, was tragically killed in a farming accident. Dad’s work opportunities later took us to Scottsdale, Arizona, and then in February 1971, we ventured to Logan, Utah, where we settled in and put down roots, lucky to be blessed with the best neighbors ever!

Dad was seldom still. In childhood he developed habits of rising early and going right to work. There were myriads of farm chores to complete before, as well as after school and well into the evening. The habit of rising early and staying productively busy all day stayed with him all his life. He was a master of juggling multiple responsibilities while being one hundred percent focused on the task at hand. He was happy and friendly, and cared deeply about people. If you were in his presence, he gave you his undivided attention.

In later years, if it was early morning, you could count on him being in his office studying, most often having his scriptures open along with another book or two he was in the process of reading, always with a bookmark, a pencil, and a red pen close by. He loved to read, was always learning, and enjoyed sharing his new knowledge.

He taught his family the gospel of Jesus Christ through direct teaching and by the way he lived his life. He lived what he knew and believed. He bore his testimony in every issue of his “Hatch Family News”, a monthly letter he and Mom sent to their family. This letter-writing tradition began in January 1990 and continued, without fail, until mid-2016!

Teaching came naturally and Dad loved every opportunity - from teaching his children, to teaching high school, piano, church youth groups, misc. church classes and more.

Scouting was an important part of Dad’s life, as a youth, as a father, and as an ambitious scoutmaster. His unique leadership style and determination to challenge the young men in his troop, resulted in valuable life lessons and memorable stories.

Dad couldn’t wait to serve a mission with Mother. Together they served in the Johannesburg South Africa Mission from Aug 1997 – Jan 1999 and generations of our family will treasure their miracle survival story.

One of Dad’s most endearing legacies has been using his love of music to encourage his children to learn multiple instruments and play together as a family. The Hatch Family Band has played at Memorial Day dances in Chesterfield, Idaho over the years, and that tradition is carried on today by the next generation. In addition, Dad enjoyed using his piano-playing talents to entertain at senior care centers around Cache Valley. What began as a son’s way to serve his aging parents, became a beloved and rewarding way to continue serving, and for over thirty years, he consistently played at care centers with the purpose of bringing joy into seniors’ lives.

Ironically, Dad almost didn’t make it as a piano player. Quoting a Logan Utah, Herald Journal interview and article by Jay Patrick, published October 3, 2010, is a well-stated version of his early piano journey: “Mike Hatch’s piano teacher was fed up. She told his mother she was wasting money. She said Mike was wasting her time. He just wasn’t into it – until his mom proposed a deal. He wouldn’t have to do pre-dawn chores as long as he played piano the whole time the rest of the family worked. ‘You’ve got a deal!’ said the [then] 79-year-old Hatch, of Logan . . . ‘And I was true to my promise.’ After a couple of years of playing two hours per day, he said he actually started to like it”.

Mike was preceded in death by two brothers, Don, and Clair. He is survived by his wife, Donna, Logan, UT, their five children: Terry & Kathy Hatch, Bancroft, ID, Lisa & Perry Smith, Sparks, NV, Chris Hatch & MaryAnn Hoopingarner, Ogden, UT, Mike Jr & Lori Hatch, Nibley, UT, and Casey & Katie Hatch, Smithfield, UT, 16 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Sat. May 13 at the Lundstrom Park First Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 1260 N 1600 E, Logan, Utah, under the direction of Nelson Funeral Home. Viewing 9:30-10:30am, service at 11:00am and burial in Chesterfield, Idaho.
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The family and I wish to thank every individual who provided care and assistance to my husband through past years, as well as in these last few months and weeks of his life. – Love, Donna