Otto "Mac" Wagoner

Otto “Mac” Wagoner

Dad came into this world on a cold winter’s night January 12, 1935. Born to Clifton Arnold Wagoner and Blanche Elma Bare Wagoner.  He was the fourth of five siblings.  Dad was born in the Roberts, Idaho Hotel where Doc Jones delivered him.  Grandma had to stay there two weeks prior to his arrival since they homesteaded in the Birch Creek Valley, which in those days was very remote and mostly a two-track road with no snow removal.  They brought him home in a bobsled pulled by a team of horses to the cabin that his father built. The cabin still stands along Highway 28 across the road from where the old Blue Dome once stood.  His older siblings went to school at the old one room schoolhouse, also still standing one hundred yards south of their cabin.  They had to send Dad to school when he was five years old so that there were enough students to hold school.  He got to play with marbles and eat cookies while the other kids did their studies.  Dad always joked that spoiled him, thinking that was how school really was.  The next 12 years of school weren’t as fun.

Dad had numerous adventures as a child riding his horse across the Birch Creek Valley.  He often told stories of chasing the ranch horses and especially enjoyed chasing the horses with his uncle, Marshal Bare.

Dad attended school at Mud Lake for 7th and 8th grade, riding in a station wagon as the bus.  In high school, since it was so far from Dubois, the kids had to board out, living with families in Dubois.  The school did not run a bus to Birch Creek because the roads were so primitive at that time. Dad and his siblings all graduated from Clark County High School.  It was there that he met his high school sweetheart, Betty Ann Rasmussen. She was his forever cheerleader as he excelled in football, basketball and his favorite sport, baseball.  Dad played a lot of Outlaw Baseball as a young man with teams from Ririe and Outlaw Basketball with his Mud Lake friends. Dad was always a fierce competitor throughout his life.  He was a very hard-working man.

On June 11, 1955, Dad and Mom were married in the backyard of Mom’s parents, thus starting their 66 years of marriage together until Mom’s passing in 2021.

Starting out Dad had various jobs driving school bus, working for Laird Sales and Service and he worked for R.D. Laird at the Conoco service station and Bulk Plant.  When given the opportunity to purchase the business, then that started Wagoner Oil Company.  For the next 63 years he served the farmers and ranchers in the Dubois and Mud Lake area. Coming from the old school way of doing business, he helped many customers selflessly through tough years. In 2018, with Mom’s encouragement, he retired from the fuel business.

In 1983 Dad and Mom purchased his parents’ ranch in the Birch Creek Valley of Clark County where his roots ran deep.  There they carried on the family ranch for the next 37 years. The ranch was Dad’s love.  With a lot of blood, sweat and tears, with tenacious perseverance and the Good Lord’s help he and his family built a green oasis out of the dry high desert in the Birch Creek Valley. Dad was named Conservation Rancher of the Year in 1991 by the Clark County Soil District for the pasture and irrigation projects that he implemented on his property. He was the Water District 32-D Chairman for 34 years.  His son Andy and grandsons Cole and Heath bought the place in 2020 to continue the 4th generation ranch.

Dad served as a Clark County Commissioner. In 1976 Dad was elected Mayor of Dubois in which he served the people of Dubois for 24 years before passing the torch in 2000.  He loved serving the people of Dubois as their mayor. One of his proudest accomplishments was negotiating the sale of the aging city electrical grid to Utah Power, the predecessor of Rocky Mountain Power.  The system was very old and with the power company taking ownership their capital brought the system up to date in the late 1980’s.  On February 4, 1989, Clark County along with Dubois was hit by the Siberian Express blizzard and with its -45 degree temperature and 50 mph winds it made it over -92 degrees with the wind chill.  The old system would not have held up and some people may not have survived if the power had gone off.  Those upgrades were crucial, and Dad was proud to be a part of the sale as Mayor.

Dad was an avid snow planer all his adult life. He made many rescue missions to area residents as this mode of transportation was before snow machines were invented. Those guys were an amazing breed and did they have fun. They made many trips into Yellowstone Park back in the day. He was still sledding until three years ago.

Dad was a member of the Dubois Lions Club for years in the 60’s and 70’s.  He was very active holding several key positions.  He enjoyed the friends he made during this time.  Among several Community projects he participated in, he was a key player in the building of the original Picnic Shelter at the Waring City Park in Dubois.

Dad was an avid golfer and spent many weekends, for years, golfing with his friends and family.  He also taught Mom and each of his kids to play golf.

Dad just celebrated his 90th birthday on January 12th with his three children at his side. What a wonderful day and memory for all of us.

Dad was always concerned about his family’s wellbeing, asking if we were okay up to his last breath.  Even though he was going through one of the worst diseases, Dementia, what a fighter he was. With the help of his family, he kept his independence and was able to stay alone for three years after Mom passed.  The last three months was his final trial which he handled with grace and strength.

Although Dad was not a church going man, he trusted God with all his heart and he always said those rugged Birch Creek Mountains, with the beautiful snow-capped Diamond Peak, were his strength and felt closer to his Savior Jesus Christ when he was near them.

The last days were tough for him, his daughters Teresa and Tina, and his son Andy.  As we were helping Dad over the last mountain and in true Dad fashion, while we rested on the evening of February 8, 2025, Dad went on up the trail alone and left us behind. Bless your heart and thank you for the great memories, Dad.

Dad was preceded in death by his loving wife, Betty Ann, his parents, Clifton and Blanche, siblings, Jackie, Wally, Wendell and Janie. Brother-in-Law, George Rasmussen.

He is survived by his children, Teresa (Richard), Andy (Teresa) and Tina (Richard), Grandsons, Cole (Whitney) and Heath (Kimberly), Great Grandchildren, Ava, Kyle, Maci and Hallie.

Thank you to Teton Healthcare for the care that Dad received.  We especially want to thank his nurse, Lani for her tender care when he passed.

At Dad’s request no services will be held.  His family will forever celebrate his life.  We love you and miss you so much Dad.

In the spirit of dads giving heart the family suggests giving to someone less fortunate while lending a helping hand.