Our rock and safe harbor, Samuel Whitney Halterman passed away peacefully surrounded by family on March 31, 2026. Sam was gifted to Lyle and Connie Halterman on Thanksgiving day, November 23,1950. Sam had a wonderful childhood in Parowan which he regularly reminisced about with his five siblings with whom he has a special bond. He attended Parowan High School, where he participated in theater, wrestling, football, and created wonderful lifelong friendships. He attended dental lab tech school in San Francisco, and worked as a lab tech while he attended Southern Utah State College where he completed his Bachelor of Accounting. After which he worked for Dixie Levitt where he decided after one year, to take off his tie and go back to the farm for his full-time forever career.
Sam is known for his service to others, devotion to his extensive family, faith, patience, and tireless work ethic. He is also known for being “PRACTICAL!”, very resourceful, and “don’t you dare throw away any unfinished or expired food”. He was a man who could fix anything, even a broken heart. He always had advice to share, sometimes we didn’t want to listen, but it always came from his heart and we will miss it.
He was a bit of an adrenaline junkie, always enjoyed a motorcycle ride, paragliding, teaching karate, repelling, and ski patrol. He had an attitude of faith that everything will all work out, that kept him calm throughout his life. One of his favorite quotes, “Is it life threatening?”, which always put things into the right perspective.
Sam’s faith was a guiding light in his life. As a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He faithfully served a mission in Florida, where he would joke he would get lost because he didn’t have Valentine’s Peak to look to for direction. He also served faithfully in many callings in the Parowan 3rd Ward. He served as a counselor in the 3rd Ward Bishopric, taught the 16-18 year old Sunday School for many years, and most recently helped people get to the temple as a Temple Prep Teacher. One of his favorite roles was that of Scout Master, helping shape the lives of countless young men, teaching them the deeply foundational principles of life and outdoor skills. He was a constant and reliable home teacher for his whole life. He loved the gospel and lived it through quiet service, kindness, integrity, and unwavering dedication to others.
Sam’s livelihood came from being a farmer, working long days with steady hands and a strong sense of purpose. After he and his brother Mark took over the family farm from their father, they continued a legacy built on hard work and honesty. With Mark, Halterman Brothers Farms was born. They quickly became staples of the Parowan community. The two brothers built their business side by side, trusting each other through every challenge and success. Their bond was special and admirable, built on a lifetime of shared memories, unwavering loyalty, and a deep understanding that only brothers can truly know. At the farm, Sam taught his children and many other young men the value of hard work, integrity, and earning an honest living. Sam was also involved with the Iron County Farm Bureau, serving as President for 8 years. Along with his service to Farm Bureau, he was involved as the President of the Parowan Valley Pumpers Association, Parowan Scale Company, the Parowan City Water Board, and was highly respected by those he served and served with. During the winter, Sam spent his time working at Brian Head ski resort as a member of the Ski Patrol for over 40 years! He cherished his friendships that he made working on the mountain. Not only did he help the people that had been injured, but would often stop to help teach people how to ski or snowboard. His children and grandchildren have wonderful memories of skiing with their father and grandfather.
Family was everything to Sam and he was blessed with a big one. He was a father of four children and loving stepfather to thirteen. In his first marriage to Wendy Stubbs he became a father to Jade and Cory. When he married an angel named Mary Jane Pinegar in August of 1991, he became a stepfather to 3 wonderful children, Taylor, Bryce, and Lana. From this sacred union, they had two boys, Walker and Carson. After Mary’s passing, he later went on to fall in love with another incredible woman, Mollie Bates. Through this union, he became a stepfather to another 10 amazing children, Anneke, Corbin, Garrett, Liam, Harper, Grayson, Bryton, Joely, Matilee, and Chloe. He loved all of his stepchildren like they were his own.
Sam had so much joy from teaching and being with his grandchildren: Ashleigh, Kayla, Hailey, Brielle, Elizabeth, Aspen, Adree, Trigg, Rainee, Junie, Piper, Teddy, Sunny, Miles, and Isla. He was lovingly known as “Uncle Sam” to multitudes of nieces and nephews. He created many memories for them all, including repelling from the hay stacks, riding high on the tele handler, driving tractors, burning weeds, feeding cows, cutting and delivering asparagus, sneaking treats from his back seat, and sharing candy from his office candy drawer. More recently he has become “The First Man of Parowan” and has been a great support in serving alongside Mollie in helping with anything and everything in our community.
His family and friends are deeply shocked and saddened by the profound loss of Sam, but will get through because of the support of family, friends and love for one another. Sam clearly knew those were the best things of life. His unwavering testimony of the Savior and love of all of us brought so much strength into each of our lives in so many different and touching ways. He was very precious and truly a larger than life man with an even bigger testimony. His absence will be noticed by many for a long, long time. He will be deeply missed.
He will be with us forever through his example of love and shared testimony. He knew his Heavenly Father & his Savior Jesus Christ and had no doubt that he, and everyone else, was a child of God. This allowed him to see the best in others and to serve with all of his heart, might, mind, and strength. We are such better people for having had his quiet influence and calm, sweet presence in our lives and constant reassurance of where to find pure joy and truth.
He is survived by his wife Mollie, children (listed above), daughter-in-law’s (Kerin, Shannon), son-in law‘s (Colby, Justin), Siblings Lyla (George) Thomas, Annette (Dave) Adams, Kristine (Jim) Robinson, Mary (Mark) Dalley, Mark (Kellie) Halterman.
The family is very thankful for all of your love and support, and any memories shared during this time. Funeral services will be held at the Parowan 3rd Ward church (90 S Main Street) on Monday, April 6, 2026 at 11:00 am. Viewings will be at the same location Easter Sunday, April 5 from 6:00 to 8:00pm and April 6 from 9:00 to 10:30 am. Interment will be at Parowan Cemetery under the direction of Southern Utah Mortuary. To share online condolences and view the livestream, visit the website www.mortuary.org.
The funeral will be at 11:00 with a Parowan Cemetery graveside service and luncheon following. A Tractor Parade procession in Sam’s honor and memory will be shared with the family and community by our local farmers and will be held on Parowan Main Street at 5:00pm that evening.