John Stewart Dexter, 94, longtime resident of Egin Bench, died Saturday, July 26, 2014 at the Homestead Living Center in St. Anthony, Idaho. Earlier that day he did one of his favorite things, watching the Pioneer Days Parade.

Stew was born December 31, 1919 in Plano, Idaho to Joseph Henry and Eva Dell Fisher Dexter, the second of six children. He grew up on the farm in Egin Bench, and graduated from Edmunds High School in 1938. He joined the Army in September 1941 and served with the 41st Medical Unit in Papua New Guinea.

Stew met Shirley M. Davis in San Francisco. They were married on February 23, 1945 by Bishop Nalder in San Francisco, California. They were sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple on June 15, 1950, keeping their promise that they would be sealed later in life. John served as a nurse on hospital trains while they lived in San Francisco. He traveled almost every passenger rail track in the U.S. They then came back to Idaho to stay and raise their family.

After driving back and forth from St. Anthony to Egin to farm for several years, they finally moved to the farm in 1972. As much as he loved St. Anthony, he was finally home.

In July of 2012 Stew and Shirley moved to the Homestead in St. Anthony where after 67 years of marriage Shirley passed away on November 4, 2012. He stayed at the Homestead where he received loving care from everyone there.

He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His church service included a member of the Branch Presidency in the Island Park Branch and Bishop in the Egin Bench ward. John served two Stake mission, the second one with Shirley.

Stew is survived by his children, John (Sandy) Dexter of Salem; Katherine (Joe) Thueson of St. Anthony; Mary Blaisdell of Malad; Nedra (Kerry) Covington of Meridian; Lee (Ann) Dexter of Rexburg; his brothers, Garth (Irma) Dexter of Rexburg; Meredith (Renee) Dexter of Ashton; and sister, Ellen (Norman) Thomas of Twin Falls. He has 19 grandchildren and 47 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley; son-in-law, Nolan Blaisdell; grandson Shaun Dexter; great-grandson, Keagan Lucas Wood; one brother, Randall; one sister, Wilma Klingler; and his parents.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, July 30, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at the Egin Bench LDS Chapel (1633 E. 400 N.), with Bishop LaVar Hunter officiating. The family will greet friends on Tuesday evening from 6:30 until 8:00 p.m. at Bert Flamm Mortuary (581 E. 1st N., St. Anthony), and Wednesday from 10:00 until 10:45 a.m. at the church.