Thomas Ira Sipes

Thomas Ira Sipes, 58, of Rigby, passed away Wednesday, December 29, 2010, at the Madison Memorial Hospital in Rexburg of cancer. Tom was born in Ely, Nevada the first son of Ira B. and Lillian Sipes. He was raised and attended schools in Tonopah, Nevada. Following high school graduation he, along with his best friend Bobby Loncar moved to Denver, Co. and then to Phoenix, Arizona, earning a degree in automotive repair. Following his education he returned to Tonopah, Nevada and worked for the forest service. He was then baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and served a two year mission to the Tulsa, Oklahoma Mission. Following his mission he furthered his education at Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho. His first night in Rexburg he met Cheryl Reynolds and they were married 7 months later on April 23, 1976, in the Idaho Falls, LDS Temple. They spent a short time back in his hometown of Tonopah before returning to Rexburg to complete his Associates Degree then on to Brigham Young University where he graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Animal Science. They then returned to Cheryl’s home town of Lost River, Idaho to live and raise a family. Tom worked for 3 years for the Lost River Co-op, and then went to work as a Technician at NRF, where he was employed at the time of his death. They moved their family to Rigby in 1994, so that their children would have more opportunities. He was a member of the LDS Church, and served in the Sunday School Presidency and several other organizations. He was an avid football fan especially BYU, traveling to several of their bowl games over the years. One of his greatest loves was Rodeo, always attending the one in Pocatello and going many times in December to Las Vegas to attend the National Finals Rodeo there. He also had a love of travel and he and his wife Cheryl were privileged to be able to travel all over the world in the last 16 years going to such places as Egypt, Israel, on an African Safari and cruising to such places as Antarctica, China, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Cheryl, two children, Ben Sipes, of Idaho Falls and his daughter, Sarah (Mark) Sjostrom, of Fort Hood, Texas, brother, Dennis Sipes, of Tonopah, Nevada, and 5 grandchildren, Katie, Anika, Becca, Emma and Thomas James “T.J”, of Sjostrom of Fort Hood, Texas. He was preceded in death by both of his parents. Funeral services will be held Friday January 7th at 11:00 a.m. in the Rigby East Stake Center with Bishop Wayne Call officiating. The family will visit with friends on Thursday evening from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Eckersell Funeral Home, 101 West Main Street, Rigby and on Friday at the Stake Center from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Burial will be in the Lost River Cemetery.