Denise Ann Cox Huntsman

Our mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Denise Ann Cox Huntsman, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, following a short diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. She was born during an early spring snowstorm on March 2, 1939, in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Denise was the oldest child born to Donald Levi and Blanche Christensen Cox. She was followed by a brother, Barry and two younger sisters, Colleen and Debbie. Denise was raised in Jameston, Idaho on the family farm and attended Jameston elementary school until 5th grade. Her family was sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple for time and all eternity in 1949. She graduated from Shelley High School in 1957.

After graduating from high school, she attended airline flight attendant school in California. She worked in San Francisco and LA for a short period of time for Western Airlines. After being laid off, she returned to Shelley to continue a relationship with a young handsome returned missionary, Dale R. Huntsman. After a short courtship, Denise and Dale were married on August 22, 1958.

They did not waste any time and started their family. They had three boys, Lane, Bryan and Robert, in a short 2 ½ years. They bought the family farm from Dale’s parents and lived in the same house (with an addition) until Denise passed away. The boys were followed by three girls, Dalene, Laurie and Anona. Dale and Denise loved and adored 23 grandchildren and 60 great grandchildren.

Denise had many hobbies which included crocheting, crafting, and cooking (especially her famous toffee). But her favorite past time was meeting and getting to know and make new friends; and she had many. She also loved their annual family camping trips on Memorial Day weekend. Sunday nights at the Huntsman residence on the corner of Canyon and Hanson was always hustling and bustling with baseball games, popcorn, and cookies. Denise always made sure there was something fun to do at her house with the grandkids and those memories will last a lifetime.

Denise was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints. She loved to teach and she held many callings. Her favorites were serving in the mission office in Pocatello, Idaho and BYU-Idaho. Denise loved her family, God and her Savior, Jesus Christ.

Denise is preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Dale Huntsman, of 65 years. She was looking forward to her reunion with them in Heaven. She is survived by her six children, Lane (Kerri) Huntsman, Bryan (Rhona) Huntsman, Robert (Tracy) Huntsman, Laurie (Calvin) Butler, Anona (Eric) Call all of Shelley, Idaho and Dalene (Don) Tracy of Kansas City, Missouri, 23 grandchildren and 60 great grandchildren.

The family would like to extend our deepest appreciation to Darcy LeFevre and Kara Yancey of Aspen Hospice for their kind and tender care of our mother. A special “thank you” to Kara for agreeing to extend her career as a hospice nurse to help care for Denise.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 Noon Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at the Shelley Tenth Ward Chapel, 184 North Park Ave. The family will receive friends Monday evening from 6:00 till 7:30 P.M. at Nalder Funeral Home, 110 West Oak Street, Shelley and Tuesday morning from 10:30 a.m. till 11:45 a.m. at the church. Burial will be in the Taylor Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the American Cancer Society. Please send your donation to :American Cancer Society - P.O. Box 6704 - Hagerstown, MD 21741 Or: donate.cancer.org

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