Martha Ann Archuleta
April 1, 1961•July 1, 2026
Martha Archuleta passed suddenly on July 1st, 2026 at 65 years of age. Born to John and Viola Funk (née Fast), Martha is survived by her husband William; her children Autumn Archuleta and Tristan Archuleta; and Audrey Price, Carinn Archuleta, and Jude Densley, whom she considered to be her own children.
Martha was born in Clinton, Oklahoma, raised on a wheat farm and cattle ranch in Corn, and no matter where she lived, she was a lifelong proud Oklahoman. She passionately carried these early farming and ranching experiences into her academic and professional career. Martha received her BS in Animal Sciences from Oklahoma State University in 1984, her MS in Animal Sciences (Nutrition) from New Mexico State University in 1986, and her PhD in Nutritional Sciences from University of Illinois in 1990. She was a Professor of Nutrition, Dietetics & Food Sciences at Utah State University, and Director of the Master of Dietetics Administration Program. She was awarded Distinguished Professor of the Year in March of 2026.
Beyond her storied and celebrated professional career, Martha lived her life in service of community and Christ. She was devoted to her Catholic faith, participating in her parish’s Bell Choir, Lector Program, and Women’s Guild. She served on the Board of Utah Refugee Connection as Treasurer. Martha was also a dedicated volunteer with Catholic Community Services. She served as a mentor to many refugee families for over 15 years, even being awarded Volunteer of the Year. She taught English as a second language to Spanish-speaking immigrants and served as Secretary of the Board at Top of the Hill Junior and Senior Girls School in Kenya.
Her vast intellect and her generous heart were evidenced by the myriad awards from various academic institutions, volunteer services, and charitable organizations.
Martha loved skiing, traveling, camping, hiking, spending time with family, her dog Phoebe, the beach, sunsets, and her dear friends. She was immersed in love, adventure, laughter, gaiety, and fun.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Ann Catholic Church in Salt Lake City on July 10th at 11:00 am, followed by the Rite of Committal and interment at Mount Cavalry Catholic Cemetery. The services will be preceded by a friends and family gathering at 10:00 am at St. Ann. The mass will be broadcast on Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83841038687. A luncheon will follow at St. Ann’s at approximately 1:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring Martha’s legacy with the following:
· Support the family through Meal Train (https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/3r51zl)
· Donate to the Martha Archuleta Scholarship at Top of the Hill Girls Senior School in Nyahururu, Kenya (https://topofthehillgss.org/donate/). Please make a note in the donation that it is specifically to the Martha Archuleta Scholarship.
· Donate to a forthcoming scholarship to be named after Martha at her alma mater, Oklahoma State University, which would support students from the indigenous nations of Oklahoma.