Obituary: BEHUNIN, ROY

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Jun 21, 2009

Roy Alan

Behunin

1935 ~ 2009

Roy Alan Behunin, 73, passed away June 19, 2009 of complications from Parkinson's Disease.He was born August 21, 1935 in Ferron, Utah to Joseph Leland Behunin and Nellie LaVon Wright Behunin. He married Joan Nielson on March 20, 1959 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.

Alan and Joan were blessed with four children, Melanie Behunin Low (Martin) Collegeville, PA; Linda Behunin Grondel (Jeffrey) Henderson, NV; Michael Nielson Behunin (Debi) Sandy, UT; David Nielson Behunin (Aubrey) Collegeville, PA.

Alan attended West High School and graduated from the University of Utah with a BS in Communications. He served an LDS mission to Brazil from 1955 to 1957. He also served in the Marine Corps Reserves.

As a young man he worked with his father in the tree pruning and landscaping business, including pruning the trees on Temple Square. He subsequently had a long and distinguished career in public relations working for Ballet West, Pennsylvania Ballet, Hercules Inc., William Underwood Co., First Security Bank of Utah, Bank of Riyadh in Saudi Arabia and Watson Pharmaceuticals. He served in the Utah State Legislature from 1967 to 1968. He was active in the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce and The Boy Scouts of America.

He was an active member of the LDS church and always served faithfully, including: several stake missions, his ward Seventies Quorum presidency, High Priest group leader, Bishopric, High Council, gospel doctrine teacher, Scout Master, choir director, early morning Seminary teacher, Stake Patriarch and devoted home teacher.

He loved the outdoors, music, poetry and good literature. He was also an accomplished woodworker. He dedicated his life to his wife and family and in serving others.

He loved people and brought a smile and happiness to people wherever he went.

He is survived by his wife, Joan, his children and 15 grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Benjamin Behunin (Pauline), sisters Mary Goold (Rod), Margaret Jones (Bruce), Ann Denninghoff (Jim), Kathryn Van Tassell (Dick), and sister-in-law Nancy Christensen (Keith). Preceded in death by his father, Joseph Leland Behunin and mothers Nellie LaVon Wright Behunin and Melissa Ann Glade Behunin, brothers James Lee and Joseph Wright.

The family would like to thank the kind and loving people from Stonebrook Hospice for their excellent and compassionate care.

A viewing will be held on Tuesday evening, June 23rd at Jenkins- Soffe South Valley, 1007 W. South Jordan Parkway (10600 So.), South Jordan, Utah from 6:30 - 8:30 pm. Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday June 24, 2009 at 11:00 am at the LDS Tithing Hill Ward building at 12400 S. and 1208 W. Riverton, Utah with a viewing prior to the funeral from 10:00 10:45 a.m. Interment will be at the Holladay Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Alan's name be made to the LDS Perpetual Education Fund or the Missionary Fund. Online condolences at www.jenkins-soffe.com