Ted Loel Unsworth (Pa)

On May 14, 2025, our beloved Pa took one last ride on his dirt bike. He was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, and soon-to-be great-grandfather.

Born to Grace Julander and Kenneth Unsworth on December 3, 1953, at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, UT. Ted was one of six children and the second to the youngest.

Ted met the love of his life doing what he loved most, riding motorcycles and shooting guns with Steve Rushton. Pulling up to a young Gerri Gallegos on his motorcycle, shirtless and with a .44 Magnum strapped to his hip, he offered the damsel in distress assistance with the flat tire on her bicycle. A simple chance encounter turned into a date at the movies, and the rest is history. Married for 52 years, they would go on to welcome three kids, six grandkids, and were excitedly awaiting the birth of their first great-granddaughter.

Unsworth Farms in Taylorsville is named after the farm where Pa grew up. He was such a hard worker on the farm that at 8 years old, he was driving the big stick shift tractor. He’d go on to follow in his Dad’s footsteps, becoming a Local 182, Union Boilermaker alongside his brothers and first brother-in-law. The work was hard, and travel often pulled him away from home, but with his commendable work ethic and grit, he steadily climbed into a Superintendent Role, officially retiring from APF Industrial at the age of 55 in 2008.

Pa loved just about anything to do with motorcycles. He often took on projects, helping to restore and rebuild bikes for others, occasionally restoring one for himself to proudly chain to the indestructible mailbox, displaying it for sale. He enjoyed extremely long road trips on his V-Star with his bride, reliving their younger days of sleeping on random police station lawns, only to be woken by the early morning sprinklers. He was still an avid desert racer, often preparing for the races at the gym with his best friend, Kerry. The racing community will forever remember his help on the trails, his animated pre- and post-race conversations, and his beaming smile. He was excited to have official pit flags displaying his place on pit row for his 2024 NHHA season as a first-time Pioneer 70+ racer, but even happier to have been the official 2024 NHHA Champagne/Cider Sponsor that year as well. When he asked a few pro racers if they were going to discard the bottles (because he wanted one), he quickly learned that those champagne and cider bottles are highly coveted and kept alongside their top trophies.

When not tinkering in the garage, doting on Miss Kitty, watching his Westerns, or at the gym with his best friend, Kerry, you would find Pa cheering on his grandkids at endless wrestling meets, baseball games, motorcycle races, and cheer competitions. He really did make the best cheerleader and pit crew, having had plenty of experience with his own kids, attending as often as he could, their numerous baseball games, wrestling meets, softball games, dance recitals, and motorcycle races.

He had a knack for remodeling. He not only tackled his childhood home, making it suitable for renters and eventually his oldest son, but also the prized Marysvale house that the family continues to enjoy to this day. Pa grew up hunting in the mountains around Marysvale with his brothers, and they all spread that love to their children. How he tiptoed at 4:00 am through all the kids in sleeping bags to begin making his Carnation Instant Breakfast and load his gym bags with snacks will forever remain a mystery.

Along with his love of hunting, he spread his love of motorcycles, the outdoors, and even fishing with his kids and grandkids. When the rugged terrain of the Uinta Mountains became too much to endure for the yearly camping trip, he stumbled upon Christmas Meadows. Each of his kids learned to ride dirt bikes in the rugged terrain, only to learn what trails were in the more developed areas. He looked forward to the annual fishing trip at Whitney Reservoir, regardless of the water and weather conditions.

Pa is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Gerri (Ma); his children Doyle (Juli), Dawnell Valdez (Orlando), and Clint; and his six grandchildren: Sierra (Nick), Nati Ramirez (Oscar), Randy, Tristan, Robert, and Leah. He was soon to be a great-grandpa to Magdalena.

Preceded in death by his Dad, Kenneth Leon Unsworth, and Mom, Grace Julander; brother, Kenley Unsworth, and first brother-in-law, Hyrum Johnson.

A viewing will be held on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, from 7-9:00 pm and on Thursday, May 22, 2025, from 9-9:45 am, at Larkin Sunset Gardens (1950 East 10600 South, Sandy, UT 84092)

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 22, 2025, from 10-11:00 am, at Larkin Sunset Gardens with graveside services following. The service will be livestreamed via Zoom and can be accessed by clicking the "Watch Services" button above.

Because our Pa was always so inclusive and welcoming, the family welcomes all to attend.