Ralph Myron Archibald

Ralph Myron Archibald, age 80, a resident of Idaho Falls, Idaho, died July 26, 2007, at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. He was born December 5, 1926, on the family farm just north of Rexburg, Idaho, in Salem. He was the eighth child of David Watson Archibald and Lillie Isabel Stallings. After surviving the depression on an 80 acre farm, the home in which he was born became a chicken coop when the family built a three bedroom home next door. Three bedrooms was a big home for the 11 children. He attended school in a three room school for grades one through eight. When he and his siblings had to walk to and from school, the three mile uphill each way distance built character. He graduated from Sugar Salem High School in 1945 and attended Ricks College for one semester. He married Dorothy Jo Call on September 19, 1947. They have seven children, 36 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. He loved to dance, listen to and perform good music. He sang in many different venues with his sister, Mary Lou Wright. Later, he enjoyed performing with his sons in quartets throughout the valley. He was always happy to be associated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served years as a High Council member, a Bishopric member and other callings. He particularly enjoyed his time as a Scout Master, during which he took three different scout troops to Havasupai Falls near the bottom of the Grand Canyon. He served two missions for the church: the first in 1955 to the Eastern States Mission while the Seventy Quorum took care of his wife and three children; the second in 1992 to New Mexico with his wife. In his latter years he enjoyed working in the Idaho Falls Temple. He worked at several places throughout his life. He enjoyed farming in Salem, selling trucks for Smith Hart Company, and particularly enjoyed working in the insurance business, which he did for over 35 years. He loved providing a service for his friends selling insurance, and five of his six sons sold insurance at different time. He retired from the insurance business in 1991. He was active in the community of Rigby, Idaho. He served on the city council, coached Little League for 10 years, and helped build two new parks that served the Rigby area. He was a charter member of the Jefferson Hills Golf Club, where he loved to golf with his sons and grandsons. He served as president of the Rotary Club in Rigby and on the Professional Insurance Agents Association for the State of Idaho. He moved from Rigby, Idaho, to Idaho Falls, Idaho in 1977. He loved the home he lived in for the past 30 years and loved his neighbors. He was a great fix-it man who enjoyed helping his children and neighbors. The neighbor kids knew they would be asked to sing a song to get a treat from the cute old man down the street, some of whom said he looked like Gordon B. Hinckley. He attended countless ball games, dance recitals, school activities and church activities to support his children and grandchildren. All good (and bad) performances had to be rewarded with cookies and ice cream. He liked to grumble (only for a moment) about eating his vegetables, bad officiating, politicians and meetings that went too long. He liked a good joke, and his chuckling would make others laugh around him. When surrounded by his family on any occasion, he would cry as he thanked the Lord for his many blessings. He was a kind, generous gentleman and will be missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Dorothy Jo; and his seven children, Steven (Marilyn) Archibald of Blackfoot, Idaho, Calvin Archibald of Fruit Heights, Utah, Larry (Nancy) Archibald of Idaho Falls, Blair (Lorrie) Archibald of Spokane, Washington, Creed (Cammie) Archibald of Park City, Utah, Jim (Nancy) Archibald of Shelley, Idaho, and JoAnn Archibald of Twin Falls, Idaho. Of his 10 siblings, three brothers and two sisters survive him: Merlin Archibald, Blair Archibald, Ronald Archibald, Ilene Pearson and Mary Lou Wright. He was predeceased by his parents, David and Lillie; his brothers, Keith, Don, Robert and Reo; and his sister, Lola Peterson. The family would like to thank all the staff at EIRMC for the great care he was given over the last six weeks while he battled heart disease. A funeral will be held to celebrate his life at the LDS church located at 2349 Virlow Street (at the corner of Hitt Road and 1st St.) in Idaho Falls. Friends may visit the family from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday evening at the church. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, July 30, at the church. Burial will be in the Rigby Pioneer Cemetery under the direction of Eckersell Memorial Chapel.