Don Russell Carsten

Don Russell Carsten, 90, passed away Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 25, 2021.  He was born March 1, 1931, in Los Angeles, California to Lewy Warren Carsten and Hannah McFadden Carsten.  Don was sealed to the love of his life, June Marie Whitehurst, on July 16, 1993, in the Oakland California Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

His love for June was only equaled by his love for the Church, to which he, in his own words, initially confronted with “intense cynicism” and “with less than a hospitable demeanor,” but was “unable to be as grouchy with the Sisters as I was with the Elders, because, well you just can’t be as mean to sweet, smiling young ladies.”  Don was baptized February 1, 1975, and never looked back on his days of drag racing, putting an end to the lie that accountants are boring, but are amenable to eternal truths.  He served in many callings, including High Councilor, Stake Clerk, Stake Auditor, and Stake Missionary.

Along with fast cars, and cheering for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Don enjoyed photography, chess, writing well-crafted “letters to the editor,” and Toastmasters, proving that people do mature over time.

The age of a grandfather when he married June, he inherited eight children and twenty-eight grandchildren, who he immediately adopted with his whole heart and often journeyed with us on some of our more memorable “outings.”

Don spent most of his life in Reno and Carson City, Nevada, working as the Chief Auditor for the state’s Department of Transportation, from which he retired in 1998.  After retirement he and June split their time between South Lake Tahoe, June’s home of fifty years, and Gilbert Arizona, serving as temple workers in the Mesa and Reno Temples as well as stake missionaries in the Carson City Nevada Stake.  Often as possible, they found themselves in Hawaii for a week or two. They were led to leave California and move to Springville, Utah in 2014.  They love Springville.

Don is survived by his wife, June, six “adopted” children Michaell Allen; Rick (Bev) Hydrick; Carter (Kris) Hydrick; Don (Sherri) Hydrick; Ora (Hyrum) Smith; Christi Hydrick; two legally adopted children Don Lee Carsten and Sherry Gregg, and a sister, Janet Phenix, and his brothers Jim and Rick Carsten.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, December 4, 2021, at 2 P.M. in the Spring Creek Ward chapel at 860 East 200 North, Springville, Utah.  A viewing for friends and family will be held Saturday afternoon from 12:30 to 1:30 P.M. in the Relief Society Room.  Burial will be in the Springville Evergreen Cemetery.