Kent Dale Willford

Kent Dale Willford, age 75, peacefully passed through the veil into eternity at his home surrounded by family in Rigby, Monday, May 25, 2020.

Kent was born in Idaho Falls, April 6, 1945 a son to Frank A Willford and Wanda Laurice Hammer Willford as the eighth child. He graduated from Rigby High School. He earned health physics technician degree from VocTech. He attended schools at BYU, Ricks College, and University of Idaho earning his bachelor’s degree in Math.

He served a two year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Central America from Sept 1966 - Dec 1968.

He married Ivy Valene Jensen in the Idaho Falls Temple August 18, 1972.

He worked as a RadCon tech in Nuclear Energy for 29 years in Idaho.  After being laid off, he  worked in Ohio, Washington, and Colorado. He also worked as a substitute teacher in Ohio and Jefferson County.

He had a strong testimony of the gospel of the Jesus Christ. He was always the first one up to the pulpit on fast Sunday to bare testimony of his knowledge of the gospel.

He loved playing pinochle with family and friends. He enjoyed eating popcorn, chips and salsa, Whoppers, and Tootsie rolls. He liked building snow forts in the winter as well.

Survivors include his wife Valene of Rigby, three daughters: Katrina Blake (Todd) of Blackfoot, Karen Cottam (Luke) of Roy, Utah and Mindy Tinker (Eric) of Rigby, four sons: Eric (Darlene) Willford of Nampa, Idaho, Kevin Willford (Bonnie) of Rigby, Mark Wilford (Michelle) of Rigby and Ryan Willford (Sunni) of Idaho Falls, five brothers: Larry Willford of Twin Falls, Idaho, Ronald Willford (Ruth) of Idaho Falls, Gordon Willford (Carol) of Cody, Wyoming, Harvey Willford (Harriet) of Egin, Idaho, Steve Willford (Cindy) of Blackfoot, Idaho, and 18 grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Wanda Willford and one brother Dewan and three Sisters, Colleen, Sylvia Stucki and Christina Keesler.

Graveside services will be held Friday, May 29, 2020 at 12:00 noon in the Rigby Pioneer Cemetery under the direction of Eckersell Memorial Chapel in Rigby.