Betty Jean Benward Hunter was born in Churubusco, Indiana at a lakeside cabin on July 25, 1924. She moved to Cedar City with her family as a teenager where her father worked as a pharmacist at Cowley Drug. She had one older and one younger brother who she adored, except for the teasing she often received. She graduated from Cedar High School where she meet and dated her husband of 73 years, R. Haze Hunter. They married December 30, 1944 near the end of World War II and he immediately enlisted in the Navy. The two of them moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho where he was stationed as a medical corpsman in a naval hospital. The war came to an end soon after he enlisted so they moved back to Cedar City where she became a farmer’s wife. She learned how to feed the lambs and candle eggs. She helped raise turkeys, mink, pigs, but mainly raised their four children. Their farmhouse was just north of the current hospital and her greatest nemeses were the little black sugar ants that also reside there. In 1958 they moved to a home on the west hills where she lived until her passing. She supported her husband in a furniture business as a bookkeeper until her retirement. She loved serving with her husband in Lions Club as a Lady Lion, dancing with the Hey Cedar dancers, bowling on a league team, and supporting Haze in his many political adventures. Her passion though was travel. We often told her she had some nomad in her family tree. She enjoyed playing bridge with her many friends, and “up and down the river” with her family on Sunday evenings. She kept a very tight ship when it came to cards, her children, and her home. Her children, grand-children, and great grand-children are so very loved. She delights in keeping count of how many there are.

She was preceded in death by her husband Robert Haze Hunter, parents Charles and Maude Benward, her brothers Bruce and Bill, daughter-in-law Karen Knight Hunter, and her grand-daughter Janna Hunter Davidson.

She is survived by her children, Danna (Garth) Jones of Cedar City, Gay (Phil) Baird of Kanab, Kim (Terri) Hunter of Cedar City, and Steven (Kathy) Hunter of Cedar City, as well as fifteen grand-children and forty-two great grand-children.

Funeral services will be held on November 3rd, 12:00 noon, at the Cedar View Chapel, 1925 West 320 South, Cedar City, UT. A viewing will be held on Friday evening November 2nd from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm at the Cedar View Chapel, and Saturday from 10:30 am to 11:30 am. The internment will be in the Cedar City Cemetery under the direction of the Mosdell Mortuary. The family wishes to thank all the great caregivers that have assisted in Betty’s care over the last two years since her husband passed away including the Iron County Home Health Care team of Marie, Brenda, and Dawn; the Sun Tree Home Health & Hospice team of Hanna , Donna, Kenzie, and Ethan. A special thanks to Beau and Erica Kunstler and Jamie Nelson Hulet.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Sandra L. Maxwell Cancer Center, 1303 North Main St, Cedar City, UT 84720.