Lloyd R Hunsaker

Lloyd Rulon Hunsaker passed away peacefully May 27, 2012, surrounded by his family. Born September 30, 1908 in Elwood, Utah, he was the 7th of 13 children of Lewis and Sarah Ellen Warner Hunsaker. One of 8 boys, he grew up on the family farm, learning at an early age the value of hard work by doing his part in weeding, irrigating, topping beets, milking cows, and caring for the livestock. He was raised in a strict, but loving home, by parents who were kind, encouraging, and exacting. He attended Elwood Elementary School and graduated from Bear River High School.
After serving in the Texas-Louisiana Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he married Thelma Layton of Safford, Arizona, May 29, 1934, in the Mesa Arizona Temple. Lloyd completed his studies at Utah State Agriculture College in 1935, earning a B.S. in Dairy Science and a teaching certificate in vocational agriculture. His first job out of college was teaching chemistry and agriculture at Beaver High School in Beaver, Utah. He later became the County Agriculture Agent in Piute County, Utah, then in Cache County, Utah. In 1948 he received his master’s degree in Dairy Production from the University of Minnesota. Lloyd taught Dairy Husbandry at Utah State University, and was the Utah State Extension Dairyman. During the school year of 1955-56 he returned to the University of Minnesota where he received a Ph.D. in Dairy Science. He became Associate Director of the Extension Service at Utah State University, and supervised Extension Service programs in the northern part of the state until his retirement in 1972.
Lloyd lived a life of service to others, and influenced many people for good, both in his work and in the church. Through the years Lloyd served in many positions in the LDS Church, including High Councilor in the Logan Stake, Counselor in the Logan Stake Presidency (10 years) and as Stake President (15 years) from1948-1972, President of the Logan Temple (1973-76) and Stake Patriarch. At the request of Church leaders, he traveled to farms in several states, including Hawaii, to assess the feasibility of dairy and crop production for the Church Welfare. Lloyd loved the youth of the church, and they revered him as a teacher and leader. He assisted many young men as they prepared to go on their missions.
Lloyd and Thelma are the parents of 4 children, 18 grandchildren, 49 great-grand- children and 13 great-great grandchildren. Thelma preceded him in death February 9, 1990. Lloyd married Sonja Hug Wettstein January 4, 1991. They have spent the past 21 years blessing each other’s lives. Lloyd is survived by his wife Sonja; children, Ione (Keith) Mortensen, Syracuse, Utah; Frank (Diane) Hunsaker, Eagle Mountain, Utah; Ann Marie (Ned) Hall, Pleasant Grove, Utah; and Carol (Daryl) Williams, Concord, California. He is also survived by his step-children, Tanya (Wayne) Watterson, Benson, Utah; Sonja Filippi, Denver, Colorado; Dan (Kathy) Wettstein, Hyde Park, Utah; Jeff (Faye) Wettstein, Mink Creek, Idaho; Tom Wettstein, Nibley, Utah; and Lori (Kirk) Williamson, Young Ward, Utah.
The family wishes to express appreciation to CNS Hospice for their kind and helpful service. A viewing will be held at the Allen-Hall Mortuary Thursday, May 31, from 6 to 8 p.m., and at the Logan 32nd Ward, 350 West 700 South, Logan, Utah, Friday, June 1, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. prior to the funeral service. The funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be in the Logan City Cemetery.