Utahna Stocking Hurst

DECLO - Utahna Stocking Hurst, 93, of Declo, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015, at the Cassia Regional Medical Center in Burley.

She was born July 23, 1922, in Soda Springs, Idaho, the daughter of Burdette Ruben and Mary Frances Ison Stocking. She grew up in Emerson, Acequia, and Declo. She graduated from Declo High School and attended LDS Business College in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was an accountant at Hill Air Force Base during World War ll. She married Leo W. Hurst in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on March 31, 1944.

Utahna spent her life serving her family, church, and community. She was always industrious. She raised a large garden, always putting food away for the coming year. She was an excellent seamstress and an incredible cook. She knit and crocheted many beautiful treasures and she was always learning new handwork skills. She was never idle and did not tolerate it in her children. She loved the gospel, the scriptures, and, enjoyed listening to uplifting music.

Throughout her lifetime, Utahna served in all of the auxiliary organizations in the LDS Church. She was a dedicated visiting teacher. She and Leo served two missions together, one to Barbados, and one to Chile, where they learned to speak Spanish.

By her example, she taught her children to love the Lord, work hard, and to always be honest. She personified selfless service. She will be remembered as a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother.

She is survived by her children, Eldon (Dawn) Hurst, Della (Jake) Sisneros, LeAnn (Robert) Ulvestad, David (Sandy) Hurst, Theron Hurst, Ross (Gwen) Hurst, Shauna Davis, Juel (Kammy) Hurst, and Nancy (Garen) Fletcher; 61 grandchildren; 88 great-grandchildren; and siblings, J.A. Stocking, Vern Stocking, Doyle (Carol) Stocking, and Earl Stocking.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Leo Hurst; parents, Burdette and Frances Stocking; daughter, Francine Hurst; grandson, Ricky Ulses; granddaughter, Andrine Ulvestad; great-grandson, Rex Love Shurtz; sisters, Aileen Stocking and Winona Rasmussen; brother, Lamoyne; son-in-law, Rex Davis; and daughter-in-law, Karen Hurst.

The family would like to thank the staff at CountrySide Care and Rehabilitation for the excellent care that was shown her during her stay there.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 9, at the Declo LDS Stake Center, 213 W. Main St., in Declo, with Bishop Russell Bair officiating. Burial will be in the Declo Cemetery.

Friends may call from 5 until 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Monday at the church.