Lloyd Ray "Dutch" Hicks

Lloyd Ray “Dutch” Hicks, 71, of Garfield and Grant areas, died Wednesday, March 14, 2012 at the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center following a short, but fierce battle with cancer. Lloyd was born May 2, 1940 the third of 5 sons to Lee and Elva Brown Hicks. He attended school in Rigby and later pursued certificates and degrees in Mechanical Technology at Idaho State and Carnegie-Mellon. He married Sharon Noble of Howe, Idaho in 1958 and had three sons: Todd, Kurt and Brett. They later divorced. Lloyd married Faye Taylor on March 21, 1969 in Lewisville, Idaho. They raised four children together: Kim, ElRae, Lloyd and Luke. Lloyd and Faye bought ground in Garfield near Lloyd’s father and began their farming operation raising livestock and growing crops. Lloyd’s affiliation with Westinghouse and the Nuclear Navy program provided fulfillment for his technical and inventive abilities. He appreciated many working friendships with people at the site. Lloyd retired from the Nuclear Navy program after 35 years of commendable service. Throughout the late 1970s, Lloyd co-owned Snake River Valley Construction. They worked to perform clean-up and recovery following the Teton Dam Flood. They also worked to rebuild and install washed out concrete canal systems and structures. Lloyd continued to build his farm and ranch operation in Rigby while working for NRF. In 1998 he formed a partnership with his son Luke and together they worked to improve the farm operation. Lloyd served as a director on the Great Feeder and Selk & Taylor canal boards and as President of the Burgess Canal Company. He used his technical knowledge to upgrade the valleys many canal systems. Lloyd enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and hearing of all their new adventures. He was proud of his daughters and the careers and education they had pursued. He often commented on the spirit of his younger son Lloyd and his never quit attitude. Lloyd loved reading books on history and politics. He was especially fond of reading about the former presidents of the United States and changes and challenges they brought to the nation. Lloyd is survived by his wife Faye Hicks of Grant, two daughters, Kimberly (Rick) Brown of Rigby, ElRae (Robert) Carino of Las Vegas, Nevada, three sons, Kenneth “Todd” (Rhonda) Hicks of Idaho Falls, Lloyd (Kirstin) Hicks of Idaho Falls, Luke (Karen) Hicks of Grant, a half-sister Connie Moore of Rigby, brother Forrest "Gene" Hicks of Idaho Falls, two sisters-in-law Heartha Hicks of Idaho Falls, Sherlene Hicks of Blackfoot, uncle Fred Hicks of Rigby, 13 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Lloyd was preceded in death by his parents, two sons Gerald "Kurt" Hicks, Brett Hicks, three brothers Terry "Doc" Hicks, Bruce "Billy" Hicks and Walter "Kay" Hicks. Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 19, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. at the Grant L.D.S. Chapel with Bishop Blaine Ball conducting. The family will visit with friends on Sunday evening from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. at Eckersell Memorial Chapel in Rigby and prior to the service at the church from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Burial will be in the Grant Central Cemetery under the direction of Eckersell Memorial Chapel in Rigby.