Kent F Hunsaker

Kent F. Hunsaker, son of Wilford Leron and Isabell Findlay Hunsaker, passed away in Logan,
Utah on October 16, 2025, of natural causes at the age of 89. He was born in Smoot, Wyoming
on April 15, 1936, and over the years spent much of his life living on Cottonwood Lane in
Smoot. As the oldest of 7 children, Kent grew up helping on their family dairy farm milking
cows, hauling hay, and picking rocks off the land. For many years, he milked their cows by hand,
as well as for several nearby families to help with the family finances. When he was in high
school, he hauled milk for many farmers in the Valley and was known and revered by many as a
hard worker who never complained. He graduated from Star Valley High School in 1954.
During his senior year, Kent played in a church basketball championship game on the Smoot
Ward basketball team in Montpelier. After winning that game, he went to a local church dance
where he met Elaine Casperson, who was from Montpelier. They dated and were married
March 19, 1955, and were later sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple on August 24 th, 1955.
After high school, Kent played football at Snow College for one year during which time their
daughter Eileen was born in 1956. Kent and Elaine lived in Brigham City for about 15 years
where he worked at Thiokol and Hill Air Force Base and their children Michelle and Stephen
were born. Later, they moved back to Smoot, and their son Joseph joined their family. Kent
worked on the Union Pacific Railroad for almost 30 years, where he excelled in operating many
different pieces of heavy machinery; he was admired and respected among those he worked
with and was given the honorary nickname of "Gramps."
For years, Kent and Elaine ran a bait business and Kent loved picking worms. He also loved
seeing the reaction of anyone who had never picked worms when he would dump solution on
the grass and worms would start wiggling up out of the ground. He had the best laugh and
loved a good joke. He loved to tease others, especially his children and grandchildren, and
made-up silly nicknames for many of his grandchildren which became special to them over the
years. Kent also became an expert at pushing Elaine's buttons – teasing her every chance he
got. Whenever they would get a big snowstorm and the snow was deep, he would tease her
about how short she was and tell her, "Don't you go out there or I won't be able to find you.
The snow will be over your head." If you ever drove past Kent and Elaine's house at Christmas
time, you would know what he thought about her Christmas lights: "Bah Humbug."
Kent loved his grandchildren and spending time with them. He loved watching and supporting
his grandchildren in their sports and other activities. Before one of his grandson's basketball
games, he slipped on the ice in the parking lot and split his head open but refused to go to the
urgent care because he didn't want to miss the game. So, the team's athletic trainer patched
him up and he watched the rest of the game with dried blood all over his face. He later needed
13 stitches. He also loved to watch any Star Valley High School sport. Many times, he would
head into Afton by himself to watch the Braves play even when none of his grandkids were
playing. He also loved the Utah Jazz and the only thing he loved more than the Jazz winning was
the Lakers losing.
Kent was very proud that he was from Star Valley, and especially of living in Smoot. He was a
member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and, until recently, was attending the
same ward he was born into over 89 years ago. Kent loved to fish, hunt, and go camping and
haul wood up at South End. He also loved a good round of golf.
Kent was a man of integrity; he did what he said he would do. He was friendly and non-
judgmental. His children and grandchildren knew that a trip to town would always take twice as
long as it should because Kent would talk to everyone – the cashier at the grocery store, the
attendant at the hardware store, even the nurses and staff at his doctor's appointments. In his
later years, when family would come visit him, they would be sure to hear the words, "I love
you" before they left.
Kent is survived by his wife, Elaine, his children Eileen (Alan), Michelle, and Stephen (Michelle),
his grandchildren Ryan (Faylene), Tyson (Hayley), Brandon (Katie), Shawn (Amber), Shalynn,
Toran, Coriann, Lee (Amy), Teri (Beau), Riley (Ben), Kasey (Sarina), Katelyn (Neal), Stephen
(Brooke), Chelsea (Emilio), Kaylee (Caleb), TJ, McKenzie (Alex), Lindsay, Joshua, Joseph,
Annalise, Elisabeth, and Austin, Tanner, Greyson, and Tennyson (children of his late son Joseph
Hunsaker and Tina Hunsaker), and 50 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister
Ronna Kingston, and his brothers Robert Hunsaker, Spencer Hunsaker, Kirk Hunsaker, and Mike
Hunsaker.
Kent was preceded in death by his parents Leron and Isabell Hunsaker, his brother Lloyd
Hunsaker, and his son Joseph Kent Hunsaker.
Funeral Services will be held October 24 th, 2025, at 12:00pm at the Smoot Ward building, 3166
State Hwy 241, Afton, Wyoming. A viewing will be held that morning from 10:00am – 11:30am.