Kenneth Parley Bird

Kenneth Parley Bird, age 80, passed away July 25, 2003 in Rigby , Idaho where he resided. He was born May 6, 1923 in Milo Township, to Lewis Richard Bird Jr. and Mary Ann Davis. He married Carma Joyce Ingram on September 21, 1948 in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. He is survived by his wife Carma of Rigby and 6 children, K. Michael Bird, (Dani) of Pocatello, ID; Marlon D. Bird (Marian) of Rigby, ID; Robert A. Bird (Laurie) of Mesa, AZ; Debra S. Weatherhead (Douglas) of Houston, TX; Randal S. Bird (Cyndi) of Wenatchee, WA; Janet M. McKeen (Robert) of Farmington, UT. 37 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. He is also survived by three brothers and five sisters: Ronald Bird, of Pocatello; Ray Bird of Idaho Falls, Rodney Bird of Idaho Falls; Lola Geary, Las Vegas, NV; Lela Leavitt of Idaho Falls; Rowene Lee of Idaho Falls; Elaine Storer of Idaho Falls; & Joann Peterson of Idaho Falls. Kenneth was well liked by his friends in the community. He loved to socialize and play jokes on friends and family at church and school. He was an excellent dancer and earned the nickname “tangle foot” as he loved to jitterbug. From 1944-46, Ken served in the U.S. Naval Forces in World War II in the Pacific area. Kenneth was raised in the Milo area on his father’s farm. He enjoyed having farm responsibilities and loved working with animals, especially the cattle, “his Joes”. He was an excellent irrigator and understood the water systems very well. Kenneth was trusted by his father to care and manage all aspects of farming. He was nominated as a most outstanding young farmer in Bonneville County. After their marriage in 1948, Ken and Carma lived on the Milo Farm for 17 years, raising their six chidren, and then they moved their family to Rexburg in 1965. They built and operated the Artic Circle drive-in restaurant. In 1978, Kenneth sold the drive-in and built Riviera apartments student housing. In 1983, they built a home in the LaBelle area not more than five miles from where Ken was born and raised. Ken loved to have people around him, whether at farm, at the restaurant or at home. He spent many, many hours helping to raise his children and grandchildren. He would devise fun ways to gather his family back to him. He loved boating, hunting, fishing and even building a family cabin in Island Park, which brought much pleasure to his whole family. His home in LaBelle is evidence of his desire to keep his family coming “back home”. Kenneth was an active and faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In 1946 he served a mission to the then Texas-Louisiana Mission. After raising their family, Ken and Carma were called in 1980 to serve in the Guatemala City Mission. In 1989, they served in the Family History Mission in Salt Lake City. In 1990, they served in the England, Leeds Mission. In 1998, Ken and Carma celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. He was preceded in death by his parents Lewis Richard Bird Jr. and Mary Ann Davis. His mother died when Kenneth was 10 months old. He was lovingly raised by his earthly mother, Grace Leavitt Bird who also preceded him in death; and sisters, Leon, who died in infancy; Wilma Curtis of Garfield, Idaho. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, July 29, 2003 at 11:00 a.m. in the LaBelle 3rd Ward LDS Chapel with Bishop Bruce Karren officiating. The family will meet with friends on Monday, July 28, 2003 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Eckersell Memorial Chapel (101 West Main, Rigby, Idaho). They will also meet Tuesday, July 29, 2003 from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. at the LaBelle 3rd Ward LDS Church. Burial will be in the Milo Cemetery in Milo, Idaho.