Lloyd Rulon Hunsaker passed away peacefully May 27, 2012, surrounded by his family. Born Sept. 30, 1908, in Elwood, Utah, he was the seventh of 13 children born to Lewis and Sarah Ellen Warner Hunsaker. One of eight 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, Ariz., on May 29, 1934, in the Mesa, Ariz., LDS Temple.

Lloyd completed his studies at Utah State Agriculture College in 1935, earning a bachelor's degree 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 to 1956 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), stake president (15 years) from 1948 to 1972, president of the Logan LDS Temple from 1973 to 1976 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 four children, 18 grandchildren, 49 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren. Thelma preceded him in death Feb. 9, 1990. Lloyd married Sonja Hug Wettstein on Jan. 4, 1991. They have spent the past 21 years blessing each other's lives. Lloyd and his wife Sonja faithfully served together in the Logan LDS Temple for 12 years.

Lloyd is survived by his wife Sonja; children Ione (Keith) Mortensen of Syracuse, Utah, Frank (Diane) Hunsaker of Eagle Mountain, Utah, Ann Marie (Ned) Hall of Pleasant Grove, Utah, and Carol (Daryl) Williams of Concord, Calif. He is also survived by his stepchildren Tanya (Wayne) Watterson of Benson, Utah, Sonja Filippi of Denver, Colo., Dan (Kathy) Wettstein of Hyde Park, Utah, Jeff (Faye) Wettstein of Mink Creek, Idaho, Tom Wettstein of Nibley, Utah, and Lori (Kirk) Williamson of Young Ward, Utah.

The family wishes to express appreciation to CNS Hospice for their kind and helpful service. A viewing will be held at Allen-Hall Mortuary from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 31, and prior to the funeral service from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Friday, June 1, at the Logan 32nd Ward church, 350 W. 700 South in Logan, Utah. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Interment will be in the Logan City Cemetery.

Published in Logan Herald Journal from May 29 to June 12, 2012