Rulon Earl Mortensen

Rulon Earl Mortensen, age 78, of Rexburg, passed Friday, February 20, 2009, at Madison Memorial Hospital. He was born May 5, 1930 in Salem, Idaho, to LeRoy and Esther Leona Brown Mortensen. He attended grade school in Sugar Salem until the age of 12. His family moved to Lyman, Idaho where he finished grade school. He graduated from Madison High School in 1948 in Rexburg, Idaho. He had just attended his 60th class reunion in August of 2008. He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in an Elders Quorum Presidency and other various positions. He also served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He met his wife Lillian while Skiing at Bear Gulch Ski Resort. They were married in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on June 24, 1955. They were blessed with 14 children, 78 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren. He farmed in the Lyman area all of his life and worked at Basic American Foods in Rexburg for over 30 years. Rulon enjoyed feeding his cattle and feeding the fish in his pond. He loved farming and ranching, moving his cattle from his summer pastures in the Teton Basin and Crooked Creek areas and calving in the spring at his home ranch in Lyman. He loved taking drives with his wife and discovering beautiful places within a days drive. He enjoyed hunting, camping and riding his four-wheeler. He loved to tease and play with his 78 grandchildren. He loved spending time with his children. He was a very quiet, hard working father of 14 children. He left a great legacy for his beloved children and grandchildren to love and follow him. He was loved by all and will be missed greatly by all. He is survived by his wife Lillian, of Rexburg, 7 daughters, Leona Sue (Dan) Bezold, of Logan, Utah, Doris (Dale) Mortimer, of Rigby, Idaho, Linda Gay (Richard) Law, of St. Anthony, Idaho, Kathy Jill (Richard) Brown, of Lyman, Idaho, Connie Jean (Jared) Fielding, of Firth, Idaho, Amy Jo (David) Bitter, of Maricopa, Arizona, Becky Ann (Brandt) Saxey, of Alpine, Utah. 7 Sons, Earl B. (DenaJo) Mortensen, of Wilford, Idaho, Gary Lee (Kim) Mortensen, of Afton Wyoming, Steven Ray (Kelly) Mortensen, of Paradise, Utah, Lynn Ellis (JoAnn) Mortensen, of Garland, Utah, Ross Alan (Darla) Mortensen, of Parker, Colorado, Jim Rulon (Stephanie) Mortensen, and Kenneth Dean (Mindy) Mortensen of Lyman, Idaho. Two sisters Myrtie (Errol) Johnson, of Wilford, Idaho and Mary Jane Rupard, of Twin Falls, Idaho. One Brother Leon (Barbara) Mortensen, of Lyman Idaho. 78 Grandchildren, and 9 Great Grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, and two brothers. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 28, 2009 in the Lyman 1st Ward Building, with Bishop Dan Peterson, officiating. The family will visit with friends from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, at Eckersell Memorial Chapel in Rigby, and from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. prior to services at the church. Burial will be in the Sutton Cemetery under the direction of Eckersell Memorial Chapel in Rigby.