With family members by his side, Gerald W. Jeppson, 85, passed away peacefully, July 4, 2016, in his home in Sugar City, Idaho.

Gerald was born August 7, 1930, in Driggs, Idaho, the first son of Gerald Jeppa and Maude Weekes Jeppson . At the age of 5 he began his chores in the cheese factory his father managed in Driggs, where he eventually learned all phases of the cheese making trade. He attended Driggs Elementary School and two years at Teton High School, then moved with his family to Rexburg where he completed his Junior and Senior years at Madison High School.

He worked at Nelson-Ricks Creamery Co., Hopperdietzel Cheese in St. Anthony, and Challenge Creamery in Rexburg to finance his education at Ricks College where he received his BS degree in 1955. He continued to work summers at Challenge until 1975.

Gerald married Joan Cluff, April 2, 1954, in the Idaho Falls Temple. Gerald received scholarships to complete post graduate work in math and science at the University of Utah, a Master's degree in Psychology and Counseling at Oregon State, and stipends for further training in Administration and Special Ed. at ISU and BSU.

He taught school at Edmunds Elementary, Parker Elementary, where he also served as principal, and Sugar Salem High School. He then worked in the Rigby school district for thirty years, as a counselor at the High School and then at the Jr. High School in administration. He served on the Sugar-Salem Board of Trustees from 1972-1984.

He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He loved to serve his ward family and did so in many capacities beginning at age 16 as Assistant Ward Clerk .

Other callings included Bishop, Bishop's Counselor, General Secretary Adult Aaronic Priesthood, High Priest Group Leader, High Council at Ricks College, Young Men's Stake Board, and teacher in various organizations. He filled two full time missions, one in California 1950-1952, and one in Athens, Greece, with his wife, Joan, 1995-1997. Together they worked as Family History Missionaries in the center at Ricks College for 7 years, and served as ordinance workers at the Idaho Falls and Rexburg Temples for 11 years.

Gerald was active in scouting for 60 years including positions as Scoutmaster, Cub Scout Committee, Committee Chairman, Blazer Scouts, District Training Chairman, District Vice Chairman, Institutional Representative, and Eagle Board Chairman.

He is survived by his wife, Joan C. Jeppson, Sugar City; Children: Gerald Paul (Becky) Jeppson, Sugar City; Melvin Terry (Sharon) Jeppson, Burley, Idaho; John Duane (Starla) Jeppson, Boise, Idaho; Marianne Jeppson (Lee) Walker, Tucson, Arizona; Joseph Charles (Elizabeth) Jeppson, Spanish Fork, Utah; Brother: Leslie Gene (Jill) Jeppson, Sugar City; Sister-in-laws: Luella Jeppson, Archer, Idaho; and Lola Jeppson, Modesto, California; Seventeen grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Kay Lucien Jeppson and Peter Blair Jeppson, and a great granddaughter, Faith Joan Fitch.

Funeral services will be held in the Sugar City 2nd Ward (Grey Church, 6th North Teton Avenue, Sugar City) at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 9, with Bishop Michael Guyman officiating. The family will receive friends on Friday, July 8, 2016, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Flamm Funeral Home in Rexburg, and from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. at the Church on Saturday. Interment will be in the Sutton Cemetery in Archer, Idaho.