Merrill Ray Gunderson

Merrill Ray Gunderson passed away on January 20, 2026 at the age of 90 in Monroe, UT.

Merrill was born on August 17, 1935 in Murray, Utah. He was the 3rd of 4 Children born to his parents, Elden and Millie Gunderson. He was raised in Spanish Fork, UT. He attended Brigham Young University and served in the US Army where he learned the skill of Land Surveying. He spent is career working for the Bureau of Reclamation, mostly in Duchesne, UT where he and his wife, Betty raised their family.

He met Betty Norton, from Arizona, at BYU and they were married December 19, 1958 in the Mesa, AZ Temple.

He was a man with numerous interests. He was an entrepreneur of sorts and had several businesses on the side throughout his life from Rental properties to restaurants to a small surveying company. He was a self-educated man with only a few college courses. He worked his way up in his profession with hard work and dedication. He was a handy man and could fix anything that broke or needed repair around his home. He enjoyed sports of all kinds which showed up in his family life as he was an active father who played catch and coached little league for his boys. He attended every Duchesne High School football and basketball game - cheering on his boys who were playing. He loved the BYU cougars, and many professional baseball teams. He enjoyed being in the outdoors and was very familiar with the backroads of Utah. He spent many hours reading. He was always interested in politics and had a great love for his country. He had a fun sense of humor and was often teasing and laughing. He loved to play games with his family. He will always be remembered as a family man who worked hard and played hard.

After retirement, He and his wife Betty served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Bismarck, North Dakota Mission. They retired in Centerfield, Utah and created a welcoming place for their extended family to gather often. He, and his wife Betty, created close family ties with their children and grandchildren.

He had a testimony of Jesus Christ’s gospel and was an active member in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints where he served as Ward and Stake Clerks, Sunday School Teacher, Bishopric member, and Temple Worker.

His posterity at the time of his death numbers over 100, including 34 Grandchildren and 36 Great-Grandchildren.

Merrill is preceded in death by his wife, Betty Norton Gunderson, his parents, Elden and Millie Gunderson, and two siblings, Marjean Gunderson Anderson and Reed Elden Gunderson

He is survived by his children Brent (Janet), Tempe, AZ, Paula (Ken) Burr, West Jordan, UT, Phyllis (Kelly) Allen, Nephi, UT, Randall (Mariam) Gunderson, Salem, UT, Pamala (Dan) Dunn, Springville, UT, Patricia Gunderson, Richfield, UT, Steve (Amy) Gunderson, Centerfield, UT, daughter-in-law: Julie Gunderson, Mesa, AZ. Sister: Sharon (Ron) Braithwaite, Spanish Fork, UT, Sister in law: Jackie Gunderson.

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