St. George, UT - Donald Lafayette Staheli, 78 passed away May 29, 2010 in his home in St. George, UT. He was born October 19, 1931 in St. George, Utah to Lafayette and Grace Sullivan Staheli. He married his high school sweetheart Afton Stratton Staheli on September 24, 1952 in the St. George LDS Temple. Donald was raised in Hurricane, Utah and attended Hurricane High School. After graduating from High School he attended Southern Utah University know then as BAC (Branch Agricultural College-a branch of Utah State University) for two years, then transferred to Utah State University where he received in 1953 a Bachelor's Degree in Animal Science along with being named Outstanding Senior. In his Junior Year at Utah State University, he was elected National President of the Future Farmers of America and in that capacity traveled for the better part of a year to major cities throughout the nation. During his travels, he met with the President-Harry S. Truman, Cabinet Members and Heads of Corporations. At the suggestion of a visiting professor, Don did graduate work at the University of Illinois and within two years, he received his M.S. and doctorate degrees from the University of Illinois in 1956. He then served two years as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. In 1959 Donald went to work for Swift & Company in various management positions. He was with them for 11 years and then joined Continental Grain Company in 1969. At Continental Grain, Mr. Staheli held a number of senior management positions including Director of Sales and Marketing for Allied Mills, Inc., a Chicago based feed and food subsidiary of Continental Grain. He subsequently was promoted to Vice President and General Manager of Allied's Wayne Feed Division, then to Senior Vice President of Allied Mills, and in 1974, to President of that Company. In 1977, Mr. Staheli was elected to the additional position of Executive Vice President and Director of Continental Grain, moving to the firm's New York headquarters. He was elected to Continental Grain's Office of the Chief Executive in 1981; President and Chief Operating Officer in 1984, Chief Executive Officer in 1988, and subsequently Chairman of the Board. He retired from Continental Grain in 1997. He also has been chairman of the U.S. China Business Council, American Feed Industry Association, International Business Leaders Advisory Council for the Mayor of Shanghai, director of the U.S. China Society, National Committee on U.S. China relations, U.S. Russia Trade Council, New York City Partnership and International Executive Service Corp. He also served on corporate boards and was chairman of the Points of Light Foundation (a national organization that encourages volunteer activities), as well as chair of International Management at Brigham Young University's Marriott School of Management. After retiring in 1997, at which time he was serving as the President of the Yorktown New York Stake in the LDS Church, Mr. Staheli was called to serve as a General Authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he served nine years in the LDS Church's Quorum of the Seventy. He served in the presidencies of the North America Northeast and North America Central areas. He later was North America Central area President. He was released from the Seventy on September 20, 2006. Because of his relationships and cooperate experiences in the People's Republic of China, he spent time both during and after his tenure as a General Authority helping foster relationships between China and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He also continued to work with the Church on furthering the work and progress in Nauvoo, Illinois. He and his wife, Afton were called to be the first president and matron of the Draper Utah LDS Temple, which was dedicated in March 20-22, 2009. They were in the second year of serving in their temple assignment at the time of President Staheli's passing. Donald Lafayette Staheli was a very influential man to many, powerful leader and great example. He made a difference wherever he went and formed many lasting friendships. But most importantly he was a loving husband, father, grandfather, son and brother. He will be missed by many but his values, influence, principles, and examples will be remembered and carried forward for many generations to come. He is survived by his loving wife Afton Stratton Staheli; four Children, Shannon Staheli White (Don), Sharmaine Staheli Barone (Richard), Todd Donald Staheli (Kimberly) and Gaye Staheli Price (Glenn); 13 Grandchildren and three siblings, Clark Staheli (Deni), Kent Staheli (Susan) and Sharlene Staheli Thompson (Lorin). Funeral services will be Saturday, June 5, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at the Bloomington LDS Stake Center, 200 W. Brigham Road St. George, Utah. Visitations will be from Friday June 4, 2010 6pm-8pm at Metcalf Mortuary, 288 West St. George Blvd. and again on Saturday June 5, 2010 from 9:30-10:30am at the Bloomington Stake Center. Interment will be in the St. George City Cemetery, under the direction of Metcalf Mortuary, 435-673-4221.