May 30, 1928-July 3, 2024
Heber Truman Hunt, age 96, passed away on July 3, 2024. Born May 30, 1928, in Lehi, Utah, to Jacob Truman Hunt and Esther Canfield Hunt. He was No. 9 of Jacob and Esther’s 10 children and their youngest of seven remarkable sons. He was proud to be a Lehi Pioneer. His family farmed 30 acres near Lehi’s Old Mill Pond where he learned to swim. He spent the entirety of his mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Bishop, California, where he served without “purse or script.” He tended to think that it was less than a real mission if one didn’t have to figure out how to eat and where to sleep every day.
After serving in the U.S. Army for two years during the Korean conflict, he married GeNeal Richins, a beautiful, recent high school graduate from Declo, Idaho, on Nov. 3, 1955, in the Salt Lake City Temple. Heber and GeNeal spent their married life in Holladay, where they raised seven children: Pamela, Truman (Linda), Gaylen (Tarilyn), Kevin (Sandra), Ronald (Chelese), ReNée (Erik Erekson) and Ryan (Julie). They were blessed with 23 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren. Heber was preceded in death by his beloved wife who passed away in 2001 after a seven-year battle with cancer. He was the last surviving sibling of both his and GeNeal’s families.
Heber graduated from Brigham Young University in accounting and spent most of his career working as a legislative fiscal analyst for higher education for the state of Utah. He spent the last ten years of his working life as the Business Vice President of Salt Lake Community College. He was asked to serve as the Interim President of SLCC for two years between the tenures of other leaders. He was passionate about education and encouraged his children to secure as much education as possible. He excelled in a master’s degree program when he had a family of four young children. But he elected not to sit for final exams because they fell on the same day as a highly anticipated father’s and son’s outing.
A faithful disciple of Jesus Christ, Heber served in many positions in the church. But the depth of his faith was most evident when one heard him pray, share his testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ or give a priesthood blessing. It was readily apparent that he was no stranger to deep dialogue with his Heavenly Father. He occasionally expressed his hope to have garnered greater material wealth in life, but he left having amassed a fortune in the things that matter most.
Funeral services will be held in Heber’s beloved Olympus 5th Ward, 3070 E. Nila Way, Salt Lake City, Utah, at 10 a.m. on July 13, 2024. Viewing prior to services from 8-9:30 .am. Interment will be in the Elysian Gardens at 1075 E. 4580 S. Salt Lake City, following funeral services.
Special thanks to Erik and ReNée Erekson who lovingly tended to Dad’s needs for the past two years.
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