Thomas James "Jim" Thornton

Thomas James “Jim” Thornton, 74 of Milo, died Wednesday, July 22, 2015, at his home surrounded by his loving family. Jim graduated from Rigby High School in 1959. He attended the Instrumentation trade school at Idaho State University in 1960. He served an LDS mission in 1961-1963 to the North Central Mission serving in Montana & Wyoming. He was a Staff Sergeant in the Idaho National Guard. Part owner of Thornton Brothers Painting where he worked alongside his brothers Steve & Ray, and worked at Ricks College Physical Plant for over twenty years before he retired. Jim served as a Second Counselor in the Bishopric, High Priest Group Leader, Stake Mission Leader, Young Men’s Presidency and many other church callings. He always looked forward to going Home Teaching even up to the end of his life. He was always willing to help and serve others and taught his children the importance of it through example. Jim loved the outdoors and often went camping and fishing with his family. He enjoyed fly-fishing and you could find him on Fall Creek, Palisades Lakes, Warm River, Burns Creek, West Piney, & Rainey Creek. He looked forward to going on father & son outings each year and would gather his sons and grandsons together to go. He was an avid reader of western novels and LDS books; especially the scriptures. His family was very important to him and built a large home so that his kids and grandchildren would visit often. He enjoyed the time he spent with his family and often sought out one-on-one time with his kids and grandkids. Every year he looked forward to planting a garden where he would try to grow the largest pumpkin he could. He had a large raspberry patch and would can raspberry jam every summer. But most of all he loved his tart green apples and had several apple trees that he tended closely. He is survived by his wife, LaDene Thornton; nine children: Tom (Jeny) Thornton; Linette (Paul) Halverson; Laurel (Kevin) McGee; Terry (Jen) Thornton; Torrey (Dawn) Thornton; Tim (Kim) Thornton; Todd (Rhonda) Thornton; LeighAnn (Jake) Klinger; Travis (Heidi) Thornton; forty-four grandchildren; two great grandchildren with two more on the way; and his siblings: Bill Thornton, Burt Thornton, Ray Thornton, Mae Pattee, Steve Thornton and Renae Danklefsen. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Mont & Wanda Thornton; and his grandson, James Thornton. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, July 30, 2015 at the Milo LDS Chapel, 12127 N. 75th E., Idaho Falls. The family will receive friends from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at Eckersell Memorial Chapel, 101 W. Main St. Rigby, and from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m., prior to services, at the church. Interment will follow at the Annis Little Butte Cemetery, 3810 E. Menan Lorenzo Highway, Rigby. Services are under the care of Eckersell Memorial Chapel in Rigby. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.eckersellfuneralhome.com