Bill Hunt, Jr.

Bill Hunt, Jr., 63, longtime Ellensburg resident and Chaplain for the Kittitas County Sheriff's Office, passed away on Friday, July 5, 2024 from a cardiac event. His funeral service will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 20 at the Ellensburg Foursquare Church with burial to follow at the IOOF Cemetery. Viewing will be from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, July 19 at Johnston & Williams in Ellensburg.

Bill was born on March 21, 1961 in Boise, Idaho to Bill (Sr.) & Emma Jean (Couture) Hunt. He spent his early years in Boise before the family moved to the Snohomish area. He graduated from Snohomish High School in 1979 where he was active in ROTC.

Following graduation, Bill worked a number of jobs in a number of places, including fabricating mobile homes, drafting for the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, and various construction jobs in Alaska and Washington while becoming a master carpenter. He also was an important part of the Hunt family business, Huntron, Inc., as the company’s maintenance man.

Bill moved to Ellensburg in the early 1990’s and has made his home here since that time. In Ellensburg, he owned and operated Foundation Construction, a company specializing in pouring and preparing concrete pads for mobile homes. For the last few years, he worked at Suncadia in the housekeeping department. He would often say “I’m getting paid to do chores!”. He loved his co-workers and going to work every day.

Bill found his real calling when he began ministering to inmates at the Kittitas County Jail in 1999. In 2001, then-Sheriff Gene Dana asked him to become a certified Chaplain to the Sheriff’s Office. Bill also served as a Reserve Deputy from 2003 until 2021. He volunteered thousands of hours caring for those in the community. From his counseling of inmates, to responding to crimes and accidents and supporting families affected by tragedy, Bill was always there for others when they needed him the most.

Following the end of his first marriage, Bill reconnected with his longtime friend from childhood (and high school sweetheart), Vera Jo Hagglund. They loved and adored each other and were planning to marry later this year.

Bill also had a number of hobbies and interests that occupied his free time, including fishing, playing Santa Claus at the local care centers, and tending to the animals on his farm in the Badger Pocket. While he “tolerated” the chickens that he was raising, his favorite animals were his peacocks, goats, sheep and donkeys. He was proficient in the martial arts and participated in a few international tournaments in Hawaii when he was younger. He was also an accomplished trumpet player, violinist and, as someone who could be considered a lifelong learner, he took lessons in his 50’s to master playing the piano.

Bill was a man of faith and worked hard to bring people to Christ through love, not fear. He was an exceptionally giving and loving person who will be truly missed by all who knew him.

Bill is survived by his mother, Emma Jean Hunt; his fiance Vera Jo Hagglund; siblings Tim (Elizabeth) Hunt, JoAnna (Bob) Miguel, Andy (Ruth) Hunt, Angel (Dan) Parsons and Ivan (Loi) Lumala; his children Michael, Holly and Billy; as well as numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews, all of whom he loved dearly. He was preceded in death by his father, Bill Hunt, Sr.; brother Daniel Hunt; and infant sister Mona Hunt.

Memorial contributions in Bill’s honor are suggested to the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office Association (c/o Johnston & Williams) or to Gideons International.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Johnston & Williams of Ellensburg. Online condolences may be left at www.johnston-williams.com