Ray Burtenshaw

Ray Burtenshaw passed away on November 18, 2009 at the age of 94. He was born October 24, 1915 in Deeth, Nevada to Horace Stephen & Elise Clara Fehr Burtenshaw. He was the middle child of three children Ralph, Ray and Adell. At the age of 3, his parents divorced so he and his siblings went to live with his Grandmother Amelia Cleverley Moss and Aunt Mary Hines in Blanding, UT. They opened their hearts and home to Ray and his siblings. His father remarried Verna Nelson in 1924, bringing the family back together. Soon his sister, Mary Rose, was added to the family. At the age of 12, his father died in an industrial accident, creating the need for Ray and his siblings to live again with his Grandma Moss. When Ray was 16, his Grandmother died, so his Priest Quorum Advisor, George A. Hurst and his wife Lona, opened their hearts and home, giving Ray a new family. Upon graduating from San Juan High School in 1934, Ray moved to St. George, Utah where he received an Associate degree in Journalism from Dixie Junior College in 1938. Ray then transferred to Utah State Agriculture College in Logan, Utah where he graduated with a Bachelor?s degree in Agronomy in 1940. Ray continued his education, eventually receiving his Master?s degree in Extension Education from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. While attending school in Logan, Utah, Ray fell in love with a beautiful young nurse, Jessie Olsen Savage. They were married on March 4, 1941 in the Logan LDS Temple, Logan Utah. They were blessed with six children, and enjoyed almost 60 years of marriage together. In 1940, his professional career started with the Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Service in Grand and San Juan Counties. Ray then became a County Extension Agent, working in almost every county in the state of Utah, advising and serving the farmers to improve the agriculture business. After 35 years of dedicated service, Ray retired from the Extension Service in 1980. Ray?s other passion was serving as Scout Master, mentoring 100?s of young boys into Eagle Scouts and good citizens. He received his Silver Beaver, a highlight in his scouting career. Ray has faithfully served his God and fellowmen, while holding several leadership positions in the LDS church. Ray and Jessie completed two LDS Missions; Washington, D.C. Visitors Center in 1980-1981 and Dallas, Texas Temple in 1988-1989. They also served for over 10 years as officiators in the Logan, Utah Temple. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jessie Savage Burtenshaw, father Horace Stephen Burtenshaw, mother Elise Fehr Burtenshaw Abella, step mother Verna Nelson Burtenshaw, parents George A. & Lona Hurst, brother Ralph Burtenshaw, sisters Adell Martin, Mary Rose Johnson and Rosamond Hurst Melartin, and a son David L Burtenshaw. His two living sisters Georgan Hurst Burtenshaw and DellMar Hurst Hellstrom are actively involved with family and church in Layton, UT. His proudest accomplishments were his children Ellen Rae Kay Jeppesen of North Logan, UT, David L Burtenshaw deceased, George S. Linda Burtenshaw of Indio, CA, Brian Hiroko Burtenshaw of Las Vegas, Nevada, Mark Kathy Burtenshaw of North Logan, UT, and Renae Burtenshaw of Salt Lake City, UT. He has 18 grandchildren, 39.5 great-grandchildren, and 14 great-great-grandchildren. Funeral Services will be held on Monday, November 30 at 12:00 noon at the North Logan 10th LDS Ward Building 1550 E. 1900 North, North Logan, Utah. Viewing will be on Sunday evening from 6:00 -8:00 p.m. at Nelson Funeral Home 162 East 400 North, Logan UT and on Monday morning from 10:30 -11:30 a.m. at the 10th ward building in North Logan. Condolences may be extended to the family online at www.nelsonfuneralhome.com