Ashton "Dale" Longhurst

Ashton Dale Longhurst, known to family and friends as Dale, 87, passed away on December 8, 2024, in Sandy, Utah. He was born on December 8, 1937, in Colonia Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, to Harvey Ashton Longhurst and Ruth McClellan Longhurst. He married Myrna Monsees on May 8, 1958, in Mesa, Arizona. 

Dale grew up in Colonia Dublán, where he spent much of his time on the family farm. They had dairy cows and crops like apples, peaches, beans, maize, sorghum, and wheat. They brought in the first pecans in the area and started a nursery. Dale loved tractors but was especially fond of the combine. His love of farm equipment and tinkering on tractors became a life-long passion.

 He attended BYU High in Provo, Utah, and then trained at Utah Technical College, at which time he met his wife, Myrna. 

He worked at various jobs as a mechanic, including Kennecott, Southeast Ready Mix, Highland Dairy, and Detroit Diesel, Hayes Brothers before starting his own business, The Get Ready Center, a 4x4 parts and accessories shop. He was almost as fond of four wheeling and fixing up off-road rigs as he was of farm equipment. Dale then operated a MAC Tools truck serving the Salt Lake area. He then went to work for Western Airlines, which later merged with Delta Airlines. In 2000 he retired from Delta Airlines. Dale and Myrna served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Inner-City Salt Lake City area.

 He retired in Delta, Utah, where his love of farm equipment and tractors continued. He collected, restored, and showed them at events and parades where he would have his sons and grandsons drive the tractors with him. He wrote a popular column in the local newspaper about growing up on a farm. He also Loved Camping and Fishing and took his family often to the annual Jeep Safari in Moab Utah each spring. He also enjoyed visits to Mexico to see family and friends. Myrna, his beloved wife, preceded him in death on October 16, 2022.

Dale is survived by his children, Sherri Longhurst, Keith Longhurst (Cheryl), West Valley City, Utah, Brent Longhurst (Lori), Cottonwood Heights, Utah, Ray Longhurst (Tami) Saint George, Utah, and Lisa Bautista, Farmington, New Mexico; 17 Grandchildren; 20 Great-grandchildren; sisters Ruby Madge, Joan Murri, Eagle Mountain, Utah; brothers Terry, Colonia Juarez, Mexico, Marvin, Colonia Dublán, Mexico, Jerald, West Valley City, Utah, Warren, Hyrum, Utah. Preceded in death by wife, Myrna Monsees Longhurst, sisters Jacklyn, LuDean, brothers Harvey, and Carl. 

The family would like to thank the caregivers at Valencia at Willow Creek and First Choice Hospice nurses who took care of Dale while he was there.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. A viewing will be held at Olpin Stevens Funeral Home, 444 West 100 South, Delta, Utah. Family and friends may call at 11:00 am. Interment will be held at the Southerland Cemetery, 2100 North 4000 West, Delta, at 1:00 pm., under the care of Olpin Stevens Funeral Home. Anyone wanting to attend is welcome to attend. He will be dearly missed by family, friends and caregivers. Online condolences can be offered at www.olpinstevensfuneralhome.com.