John Edward Whitson, 81 of St. Anthony, died Sunday, October 31, 2010 at Madison Memorial Hospital after a short illness.
He was born July 9, 1929 in Durham Oklahoma to Roy W. And Frances Eleanor Calder Whitson. He grew up in Erick Oklahoma where he received his formal education and graduated from high school.
He married Barbara Brooks in 1953. They lived in Fairbanks, Alaska after he enlisted in the U.S. Army. They lived there for another year and a half after he was discharged. In 1958 their son John Mark was born.
They moved from Alaska to Oklahoma where he started his college education and graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in Forestry which led them to live in many western states. While in Colorado Springs in 1963 they added another son Barry to the family.
They moved to Baker, Nevada; Pleasant Grove, Utah; Wenatchee, Washington and finally to St. Anthony, Idaho. John retired from the U.S. Forest Service in 1987. They stayed in the area where they both retired and loved.
He is survived by his wife Barbara of St. Anthony; sons, Mark (Shauna) Whitson of Layton, UT; and Barry (Terri) Whitson of Idaho Falls, ID; 9 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.
He enjoyed his family and any outdoor activities. He will be missed greatly.
Memorial services will be held Wednesday, November 3, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. in the Community Presbyterian Church Steve Atkinson officiating. The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Bert Flamm Mortuary.