William Clarence Berry III

William C. Berry III (Bill Berry) was born on June 30th, 1945, in Driggs, Idaho. He had a heart so big and so strong that he used for so long (81 years to be exact) and on July 10th, 2026, after 6 long years of health struggles, that faithful heart finally decided it had carried him as far as it could. So thus, it is, the man, dad, grandpa, and friend, who we all know and love, has died of heart failure. And now we’ve all been left here to miss and to mourn him.

And by us, I mean his lovely wife of 62 years, Mary Berry, his five children and their spouses, Prett (Lisa) Berry, Micalla (Wayne) Neff, Willy (Brittney) Berry, Shalaina (Trent) Tyler, and Amber (Gary) Williams, his 24 grandchildren and their spouses, and also his 26 great-grandchildren.

An obituary is a highlight reel. And if Bill got to watch his highlight reel during his last few days here on Earth, I don’t imagine he would have been thinking about going to grade school in Tetonia or graduating with honors from Minico in 1963 – although he might reminisce about meeting his wife at that school, as they were high school sweethearts. He might not have paused the reel to watch his time spent working for different car dealerships, Smith Chevrolet, and Madison Ford, but instead hit rewind to see the day he got sealed to his wife in the Idaho Falls temple, or to again witness the birth of his 5 children that he loved so dearly, and maybe even to watch as the family, in-laws, and grandkids all came together to build his dream home in Rigby in 2003. I imagine there would be a few hunting trips he would want to relive, like when his wife shot a moose with her eyes closed, as well as some he’d like to skip over, like when the ambulance needed to be called after he flipped a four-wheeler on a too-steep incline that was most likely obvious. He would probably again like to see that one fish he caught that was as big as his arm and then fast forward after realizing he might have exaggerated its size just a bit.

Honestly, his whole life is one great highlight, made possible by the easy, sarcastic, alls-well-that-ends-well attitude that Bill lived by.

He had a full life, and he loved every minute of it. His greatest mission on this Earth was that of his family, executed in the way he served them, loved them, teased them, and always showed up for them. He loved his great grandkids, who bestowed the name “Smarties Grandpa” to him, not for his brains, but for the candy he always kept in his pocket. He loved this country, and while he was never asked to sing the Star-Spangled Banner at any event, he sang it loudly and proudly, anyway. He loved the Savior. He loved the gospel. And I know he is now being met with a “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

At the end of his mortal life and at the beginning of his eternity, I know he would want us all to know he loved us a bushel and a peck, a hug around the neck, to pieces like the meeces, even after all this time.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents, Edythe Fullmer and William Clarence Berry Jr., as well as his “dad,” George Wayne Pehrson, his sisters Linda and Jeanette, brother DeLayne Pehrson, granddaughter Parker Paige Neff, and great-grandson, Boston Berry, and a whole lot of other friends and family that have been waiting to welcome him home.

A viewing will be held at 602 Sundance in Rigby, ID, on Sunday, July 19th from 6-7:30. Funeral services will be Monday, July 20th, at 602 Sundance, Rigby, ID, at 10 a.m. Interment to follow at the Pioneer Cemetery in Rigby.