Jay Lufkin Risenmay was born March 19, 1932 to George Henry Risenmay and Jane Pitt Lufkin in Woodville, Bingham County, Idaho.

He attended elementary schools at Woodville and Shelley. Jay loved scouting and earned his Eagle Scout Award before age 14. After graduating from Shelly High in 1949 he attended Utah State Agriculture College where he graduated in 1953 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant through the ROTC program. He entered active duty in the Air Force as an Aircraft Controller in 1954, and spent two years serving in Cape Cod, Massachusetts and Maine.


Jay always planned on becoming a farmer; he was active in FFA in high school and received a State Farmer degree. In college he earned his B.S. degree in Animal Husbandry and his M.S. degree in Animal Production. Soon after receiving his M.S. degree, he was invited to teach seminary by Brother Boyd K. Packer. As he taught, he felt the need to become a better teacher and began a doctoral program at BYU in Educational Psychology. It was here that Jay discovered his interest in counseling and he received his EdD degree in 1965.


That fall Jay was hired by Ricks College to be the Director of the Counseling Center. He intended to stay for only a year or two, but was so impressed with the students, faculty members and the citizens of Rexburg, that he felt Ricks was a perfect fit for him and held the position for 29 years. While at Ricks he also taught religion and psychology classes. Jay was presented with the Man of Excellence Award at Ricks College for the 1993-1994 year.


Jay became a licensed psychologist for the state of Idaho and had a private practice in counseling for many years. He served as Chairman of the Madison School Board and also served on several mental health boards. Jay had a love of sports from the time he was a young boy. He especially enjoyed playing a variety of sports and watching BYU teams and the Utah Jazz.


Throughout his life, Jay served in many church callings. For 17 years he served in various callings in the Ricks College wards and stakes, including Bishop and Stake President. In 1992 he was called as the Patriarch in the Rexburg East Idaho Stake where he served for 20 years, until health issues forced him to be released.


The joy of his life was his eternal companion, Carla, and their four daughters and their families; Rhonda Sutherland (Bruce), Ann Behling (Max), Laurel Walker (Layne), and Janet Graul (Greg). Jay and Carla did nearly everything together. They thought in terms of "us", "we," and "ours" rather than "me", "mine" and "yours".


They have 20 grandchildren and 35 great grandchildren. Jay is survived by his sisters Esther Johnson (Joe) of Orem, Utah, Donna Price (Willard) of Shelley, Idaho and Marion Kelley (Bob) of Draper, UT and by his brother, Dee Risenmay (Emmajean) of Rexburg. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Jane Risenmay, his brothers Howard and Eldon Risenmay, his sister Rena Hymas, and 4 grandchildren Ryan, Lisa, Qunicy and Rock. Thank you to the many who have served dad-Dr. Hancock, Homestead and hospice.

Funeral services will be held 1:00 p.m. Saturday, January 27th at the Harvest Hills LDS Chapel. The family will receive friends Friday evening from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Flamm Funeral Home and then again from 12:00 to 12:45 p.m. at the church prior to services. Interment will be in the Rexburg Cemetery.