Marcus Walker Barnes

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Marcus Walker Barnes, 94, of Rigby Idaho passed away peacefully Wednesday, December 6, 2023, at his home in Rigby, surrounded by his family.  He was born June 15, 1929, to Forrest Walker Barnes and Ruth Elzada Sanders.   He graduated from Hamer High School and served a full-time mission to the Southern States. When he returned from his mission, he met the love of his life Joan Bates.  She was his sweetheart.   They were married in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on March 19, 1954. Together Marcus and Joan were blessed with ten children, Deborah (John) Hathaway, Joni (David) Hansen, Lora (Jed) Stanger, Dena (Len) Scoville, Forrest (Glenda) Barnes, Mark (Tereena) Barnes, John (Heather) Barnes, Ruth (Bryan) Hammar, David (Tricia) Barnes, Paul (Susie) Barnes. He has sixty grandchildren and 102 great grandchildren and currently one great, great grandchild.

Marcus attended Utah State University in Logan Utah and graduated with a teaching degree. He taught seminary and was seminary principal in the Rigby area for twenty-eight years and influenced many lives.   He also loved farming, raising horses and cows, he loved to work and always had a project going.  He served as a bishop, counselor in a stake presidency, and as stake patriarch.  Marcus and Joan served together as missionaries on the Island of Tarawa, Kiribati in the Pacific and in Toronto, Canada.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at the Ririe LDS Stake Center.  (14061 N 130 Rd E, Ririe, Idaho 83443) Visiting with the family will be Monday night from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Ririe Idaho Stake Center and Tuesday morning 9:00-10:30 a.m. before the funeral.  Burial will be at the Rigby Pioneer Cemetery.  The family wishes to give special thanks to the staff at Solace Hospice, and Doctor Bryan Hammar.  In lieu of flowers, friends who wish, are invited to make a donation to their local ward missionary fund.