Nancy Huntsman

1954-2022 / In Loving Memory

Park City, UT-Nancy Lewis Huntsman (1954-2022) passed away on October 21, 2022, following a long battle with cancer. Nancy was an extraordinary woman of unsurpassed energy, an intrepid pilot, and someone who lived with an infectious zest for life that was felt by everyone who knew her.

Born in Oakland, California in 1954, she later moved to Crescent City, where she earned her pilot's license while still in high school. Nancy went on to the University of Utah where a chance decision her senior year led to her spending three years in Japan and developing a fluent knowledge of Japanese, as well as lifelong friendships. This followed a pattern that persisted throughout her life: wherever she went, and whatever she did, she made deep and lasting friendships along the way. After returning to the US, she earned her MBA at Columbia University before going onto a career at Citibank.

Later in life she found love and married Alonzo Blaine Huntsman Jr., with whom she had two children, Stewart and Merodean Huntsman. She continued her whirlwind life, serving on the boards of Target Bank and the Salt Lake City Airport, writing op-eds for her local paper, and traveling the world.

Late in 2019, after being diagnosed with cancer, Nancy set about pursuing her mantra of "full throttle living" and seizing every moment to the fullest. In 2021, she found love a second time and married Kenneth Hansen, with whom she enjoyed a spectacular year of travel and adventure, from the piazzas of Italy to the rolling emerald hills of Ireland.

In an inspiring display of living, she was still traveling, and enjoying concerts up in her beloved Teton Valley, Idaho, less than a month before the end. Amidst all this, she also found time to write, produce, and narrate a short documentary about her family's conservation work in Idaho, one of her lifelong passions. Her life, too large, joyful, and adventurous to be summed up in an obituary, was one lived to the absolute fullest.

Nancy is survived by her two children, Stewart and Merodean, her husband, Kenneth Hansen, her seven stepchildren, Lon, Scott, Heidi, Lisa, Beach, and Richard Huntsman, and Matthew Hansen, her mother Deaun Reilly, her brothers Jeff and Doug Lewis, her nine grandchildren, and her beloved dog Hektor.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Teton Regional Land Trust. Donations may be made online at https://tetonlandtrust.org/donate/ (you may choose "Dedicate this Donation" to donate in Nancy's name) or by mailing a check with "In Memory of Nancy Huntsman" in the notes to Teton Regional Land Trust, P.O. Box 247, Driggs, ID 83422.

A celebration of life will be held at the Utah Museum of Natural History on February 11, 2023. For more information, please email [email protected].

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Salt Lake Tribune from Nov. 15 to Nov. 20, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for Nancy Huntsman

4 Entries

Mike Schrader

July 10, 2024

I worked with Nancy when she purchased her Lancair Columbia aircraft from me when I was at Columbia. We talked many times during the delivery period and when she was at the factory for training and eventually flying her Columbia all over the country. She was a joy to be around and very proud of her children. She often commented about how her then young son knew all things aviation. I last saw Nancy when she stopped by the Salt Lake Airport to see the Epic Aircraft I was displaying there for the show in 2019, I believe. I feel blessed to have known her. Blessings to her family.

Michael Kalm

November 16, 2022

Nancy was a wonderful, kind, intelligent and genuine human being who was a model for anyone who wanted to know how to live a rich and full life. She was also a wonderful stepmother to her stepchildren throughout her first marriage to Blaine. She is sorely missed, but I will retain her in my heart.

Louisa Piper

November 16, 2022

I met Nancy only a few summers ago while playing golf. We enjoyed the 19th hole a few times and she was delightful. Reading this story of her life brings a big smile to my face because I knew her for only a moment in time and I knew she had many more stories to tell. I hope I can see the film in the future and listen to her lovely voice again. Take care.

Bev Pattison

November 15, 2022

I had the absolute pleasure of meeting one of the most genuine, sweet to her core women I´ve ever met in my life. What a beautiful, living your best life, woman you are Miss Nancy. I loved how you would run in, grab a few hats and off to the airport on your next adventure! I know you´re on the best adventure now but my heart still hurts that you´re gone. I love you Nancy! Thank you for showing me how to live with Grace and Style

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