Dixie Fern Hunting, 96, of Idaho Falls, passed away on January 17, 2025, at the Gables of Ammon. She was under the care of Brio Hospice.

Dixie wrote the following obituary for herself:

I was born on the thirteenth of October 1928 in Iona, Bonneville County, Idaho to James Thomas Smith and Mildred Fern Atkin. I was born at home in the old James E Steele house, one of the first homes built in Iona. I am a fourth-generation Iona Girl and very proud of my heritage. I was the third of eight children.

My parents taught us the value of hard work. I grew up during the Depression and World War II. Money was scarce. I thinned beets with my father, topped beets, sold firewood, and gleaned potatoes to sell to the widows in Iona. I worked in the potato fields and helped my father with the farm work and chores. I also babysat. My parents never had to give me a dime since I was eight years old. I was a tomboy and loved being outside in the fresh air. I liked the smell of fresh hay and animals. I avoided housework if I could. I was a very fast runner, winning many 4th of July races.

I had many Smith cousins who were my friends. We are a close family and love each other.

I loved school and always had top grades. I enjoyed Math, Accounting, History, English, and Poetry. I played trumpet in the high school band. We didn't have women's sports in my school, or I might have played basketball and softball.

My first regular-paying job was picking peas in the seed house in Idaho Falls. I also worked as a Bonneville County Clerk and typed for Bonneville Abstract Company. In 1950 I moved to Portland, Oregon, where I got a United States National Bank job. Later I started preparing income taxes in my home. I started Dixie's Tax Service and retired when I was eighty-two.

After high school, I heard about a girl's fast-pitch ball team starting up and man, I was really excited! I tried out and made the team. I played second base for the Idaho Falls Rocketts for eight years. We had a great team. We were outstanding in our field! (Ha, ha) Our team played men's teams and beat a lot of them. We played in state and regional tournaments finishing first, second, or third at most of them. It was a fun time in my life. I made many lifelong friends.

I met Gerald Dean Hunting from Menan, Idaho, in Portland Oregon. He was serving in the Army. When he got out of the service we were married on March 29, 1952. We made our home in Idaho Falls and Iona until 1973. We had six children. David, Tommy, Douglas, Dixean, Dianne, and Daniel. They have been a joy to me. I love them very much.

We bought a forty-acre farm in Firth, Idaho, and taught our children how to work. We enjoyed the farm life for five years then sold the farm and moved back to Idaho Falls. Dean drove the bus for the INL and I prepared taxes during the winter months.

Dean and I also built a cabin in Island Park. We built as we could afford, and the children helped. Thirty-two Christmases were spent there with memories to go with it. Snowmobiling was our favorite thing to do at the cabin. I also enjoyed skiing and did so until I was eighty. I taught all of our children how to ski at Kelly Canyon.

Some of my accomplishments: Mother of six children, Business owner: Tax preparation, Brandy BJ Leather, Realtor, Genealogist, The organizer of the Iona Veteran's Memorial, Grand Marshall of the Iona Days Parade 2023, Thirty-year member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, Skiied until 80 years of age, and taught Children and many others to ski.

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I have a strong testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I have served in many callings in the church over the years. I was a stake and regional camp director for 35 years in three stakes. I have fond memories of the girls' camp at Darby and hiking in the Tetons with Fred Miller, our hiking guide. Other callings I have had are Sunday school teacher, sports director, Cub Scouts, Relief Society teacher, Activities Committee, and visiting teacher (minister).

In retired years, Dean and I went to Overton, Nevada for the winter months. I also traveled to Europe, Mexico many times, Alaska, Canada, and much of the U.S.

Dean passed away on October 3, 2008. I have been a widow for seventeen years.

Dixie is survived by her sweet children: David (Anna) Hunting, Douglas (Marie) Hunting, Dixean (Philip) Grimes, Dianne (Ryan) Poole, and Daniel (Jean) Hunting; 20 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild with 2 on the way; sister, Ione Hackwell of Boise, and Royce Smith of Darby, Montana.

She is preceded in death by her Parents; Husband; Son, Thomas Dean; Grandson, Destry Gary Hunting; and great-grandson Eli Derek Poole; Brothers: Robert, Jay T., and James; Sisters: Peggy McCurdy and Joan Peterslie.

Special thanks to all the wonderful caregivers of Ammon Gables and Brio Hospice who cared for Dixie with great love and compassion

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 25, 2025, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 4707 East Iona Road. A visitation will be held from 6-8:00 p.m., Friday, January 24, 2025, at Coltrin Mortuary, 2100 1st Street, Idaho Falls, and one hour prior to services at the church. The interment will be at the Iona Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.coltrinmortuary.com .