Royal Lee Hunter

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Royal Lee Hunter, 92, of Rupert passed away Sunday, November 3, 2024, at his home in Ogden UT.  Royal Lee Hunter was born 15 July 1932 at Rupert, Minidoka, Idaho

He was the 4th of 4 children of John Thomas and Sarah Esther Miller Hunter

Grew up around Rupert, Idaho. Lee attended Rupert school.

He was a member of the “R" club in Rupert High School, played football and was active in Track and Field. Lee's record for "short hurdles" stood for several years before it was broken. He also took first in Mile Relay. Rupert High School team took top honors in Rupert relays.

He graduated from Rupert High School in May of 1950.

In December of 1952, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. Took Basic Training at Parks AFB, California; 1953 Technical Training at Lowry AFB, (Denver) Colorado. He was a radar gunnery mechanic, working on the Flight Line on B-47 airplanes. First assignment

was 2nd Bomb Wing, 38th Air Division at Hunter AFB, (Savannah) Georgia.

December of 1955, he returned to Rupert, Idaho to marry Vivian Irene Sparks (Daughter of Leroy & Celith "Billie" Lathrom Sparks) They "returned to Hunter AFB, Savannah, Ga. He attended a year at Armstrong College in Savannah, Ga.

While at Hunter AFB, Georgia - he became a member of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints - was baptized in a river near Savannah by 2 missionaries from his home state of Idaho.

During his 20 years in USAF, he was stationed at Hunter AFB, Savannah, Georgia; Plattsburg AFB, Plattsburg, New York; Sidi Silmain AFB, North Africa. Lowry AFB, Denver, Colorado. Dow AFB, Bangor, Maine, Davis Monthan AFB, Tucson, Arizona. and Mountain Home AFB, Mountain Home, Idaho,

In December 1972 he retired from the Air Force. He served in the Air Force for 20 years and 21 days and moved to Rupert, ID.

In May of 1973, he started his employment at the Amalgamated Sugar Company at the Paul factory. He retired as “foreman of Dryer Section" in 1995. His fellow workers said of him " Super Boss Superior Friend"

In 1981, they became interested in Foster Care program, so obtained a Child Care license and welcomed teenager Troy Robertson into family.  From September 1998 to Oct 2002, Lee and Vivian served at the Logan LDS temple, Logan Utah. They returned to the service in the Temple in 2003 until August of 2006. Vivian passed away in November 2015.

He moved to Utah and lived with his sons Edward and Ted in 2020.

Preceded in death by his parents: His wife Vivian Hunter, John Thomas and Sarah Esther Hunter, and one sister, Margaret Alice (Hunter) McLean of Paul, Idaho, brothers Jack (Betty) Hunter of Albion, Idaho, and Jim (Delila) Hunter of Rupert, Idaho.

Lee is survived by his sons: Samuel (Mary Carol) Hunter of Juneau, Alaska, Gary (Mary Kay) Hunter of Simpsonville, SC, Theodore "Ted" (Jan) Hunter of North Ogden, UT Edward (Crystal) Hunter of Centerville, Utah and Troy (Kandi) Robertson of So. Jordan, Utah

17 grandchildren and 39 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday November 16, 2024, at the Rupert 5th Ward Chapel, 324 East 18th Street Rupert. View and gathering for family and friends will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday November 15, 2024, at Hansen Mortuary and for one hour prior to services at the church. Services will conclude with a burial at the Rupert Cemetery.  Arrangements are under the direction of Joel Heward Hansen Mortuary.

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