Irene Elaine Casperson Hunsaker, daughter of John Eliot and Theomae Hathaway Casperson, passed
away in Logan, Utah on December 11, 2025, of natural causes at the age of 90. She was born in
Clifton, Idaho on November 14, 1935. Elaine was the oldest daughter in a family of 9 children and,
from a very young age, was a fireball. She was often found climbing trees, shimmying across barn
rafters, and running around with the boys in the neighborhood. The only thing that seemed to
slow her down was a heart condition when she was 5 years old that was miraculously healed in
the Cardston, Alberta temple.
Elaine was involved in gymnastics, choir, and cheerleading in high school and graduated from
Montpelier High School in 1955. She met Kent Hunsaker at a local church dance while he was
visiting for a church basketball championship. They were married March 19, 1955, and were later
sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple on August 24, 1955.
Kent and Elaine moved to Ephraim where Kent played football their first year of marriage. Their
daughter Eileen was born in March of 1956. Kent and Elaine then lived in Brigham City for about
15 years, where their daughter Michelle was born and their son Stephen joined their family. After
they moved back to Smoot, their son Joseph joined their family.
Elaine had many talents and gifts. She was a teacher at the Intermountain Indian School in
Brigham City, earned a teaching degree from Utah State, and was a teacher in Grays Lake, Idaho.
Elaine had a huge heart; she was always looking out for those who needed help, love, or a place
to stay. She was a talented quilter, made beautiful, hemstitched baby blankets, and crocheted
thousands of towels and scrubbers, most of which she gave away to family, friends, and even
strangers. She was a woman of generosity, kindness, and compassion, especially for the
underdog. She was known for her fry bread, homemade chicken noodle soup, and homemade
bread and jam.
Elaine also loved a challenge. She often said, "If there's a will, there's a way." and "The best way
to get me to do something is to tell me I can't." There wasn't much she was afraid to do, including
remodeling houses, reconstructing rock walls, and fixing just about anything. She loved driving
fast, even though she had to sit on phone books and attach pieces of wood to the gas and brakes
so she could reach them. She also owned or ran many businesses over the years – including a hair
salon, a barter business in Logan, and a bait business up in Star Valley.
Elaine loved gardening, mowing her lawn, cutting and hauling wood, and going camping in her
fifth-wheel or motorhome. From the time she was young, Elaine rode horses. She trained and
broke many horses throughout her lifetime. There wasn't much she loved more than being out
on a horse. She loved dogs and raised and bred many beautiful German shepherds over the years.
She loved Saturday morning yard sales and seeing how cheap she could get stuff. Elaine also loved
Christmas. She made her home a magical place for her children and grandchildren with a

beautiful, flocked Christmas tree and an amazing display of Christmas lights every year. She may
have been small, but everything she did was larger than life.
Elaine is survived by her children Eileen (Alan), Michelle, and Stephen (Michelle), her
grandchildren Ryan (Faylene), Tyson (Hayley), Brandon (Katie), Shawn (Amber), Shalynn, Toran,
Coriann, Lee (Amy), Teri (Beau), Riley (Ben), Kasey (Sarina), Katelyn (Neal), Stephen (Brooke),
Chelsea (Emilio), Kaylee (Caleb), TJ, McKenzie (Alex), Lindsay, Joshua, Joseph, Annalise, Elisabeth,
and Austin, Tanner, Greyson, and Tennyson (children of her son Joseph Hunsaker (deceased) and
Tina Hunsaker), and 50 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters NaDean Bartschi,
Tara Jackson, and Linda Crapo.
Elaine was preceded in death by her husband, Kent Hunsaker, her parents, Eliot and Theo Mae
Casperson, her brothers Eric Casperson, Eliot Casperson, Lee Casperson, Glen Casperson, Arlin
Casperson, and her son Joseph Kent Hunsaker.
Funeral Services will be held Friday, December 19th, 2025, at 11:00am at the Smoot Ward
building, 3166 State Hwy 241, Afton, Wyoming. A viewing will be held that morning from 9:30am
– 10:30am.