Robert "Bob" Blair Ellsworth, 86, passed away Wednesday, March 30 ^th , 2022, in Rexburg, Idaho. He was born January 19, 1936, in Plano, Idaho, to Robert and Laura Adele Perrenoud Ellsworth. He was the oldest of four children. His siblings are Albert "Bert" (Sandra), Janis Briggs (Gary), and Lois Wartluft (Harold). In 1964, Bob married Annette Goodrich and together they reared a family of seven beautiful daughters.

Bob attended elementary school in the old Plano Townsite. Having completed elementary school, with the family living in Hibbard at the time, he was bussed to Rexburg to attend Madison Jr. High and High School, graduating with the Class of 1954.

He was active in Boy Scouts and was awarded Eagle Scout at the tender age of 13! He went on to earn the Explorer Silver Award and participated in the Air Scout program.

Soon after his high school graduation, Bob boarded a bus for Northern Idaho to work summers for the Forest Service in the Blister Rust Eradication program. Using his summer job with the Forest Service, supplemented with odd jobs during the school year, he attended the University of Idaho and was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering in 1959. He later earned a degree as a Professional Civil Engineer and was licensed as a Registered Civil Engineer in the State of Utah.

Soon after he graduated from the University of Idaho, Bob was drafted into the Army, attending boot camp at Fort Ord, California. From there he was sent to Fort Detrick, Maryland, where he worked in the Department of the Defense in Special Services and Biological Warfare Laboratories. Bob continued his career with the United States Government by working for the Department of the Interior with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and later transferred to the Forest Service in the Department of Agriculture.

Bob and Annette were privileged to do a fair amount of travel. A special trip was when Bob's Alma Mater invited him to participate in a Citizen Ambassador program tour. Annette was able to go with them. The group visited nine countries, most of which were (at that time) "behind the iron curtain".

In 1973, following a long step-by-step qualification process, Bob was selected by the Agency for International Development to participate with the State Department for a foreign assignment to Kenya, East Africa. His family accompanied him.

The family was in Kenya for two tours totaling four years. Their assigned location in Nakuru was considered a "hardship post" so they were granted "R&R" which was enjoyed in Egypt and Israel. Between tours, they were given "Home Leave" to the USA.  A fun fact is that because their travel and airfare was in a continuous westward direction, they circumvented the world.

During his retirement years he and his wife traveled full time for 9 years in their 5 ^th Wheel R.V. living or traveling through 46 of the Continental States. While waiting for a new truck to pull their heavy RV, they stayed at the 7-N Ranch near Heise, Idaho. They reminisced as they traveled the area and found the house of their dreams in Plano.  They sold their truck and RV and settled down. After seventeen years there, they sold their home and downsized to a residence in Rexburg.

Bob was a life-long member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held many positions of leadership. Some of his assignments were: serving in the presidency of the 225 ^th Quorum of The Seventy in St. Anthony, Idaho; Mission Group Leader for Kenya, East Africa; a service mission at Deseret Cattle and Citrus Ranch in Florida; and Stake/Ward Mission Leader in Ogden, Utah.

While serving at the ranch in Florida, each Wednesday, Bob and Annette were privileged to serve as Ordinance Workers in the Orlando, Florida, Temple. They called it their "bonus day". After moving to Idaho, they served in the Idaho Falls Temple.  Upon completion and dedication of the Rexburg Temple, they were set-apart and served there until Bob's health began to fail.

Book of Mormon geography was one of his major projects and interests in life. He spent many hours researching and compiling a map of The Book of Mormon lands overlayed on a modern map of Costa Rica, and he wrote a booklet on the lands of Zarahemla. Fulfilling a lifelong dream, Bob and Annette were privileged to live in Costa Rica for a short time and traveled to various locations described in The Book of Mormon.

Preceding Robert in death are his parents, his brother Bert, sister Janis, and son-in-law Willard BlueEyes. Surviving are his wife, Annette, and their daughters: Vicki (John), Laura, Sandra (John), Teresa (Willard), Valerie (Robert), Debra (Michael), Melanie (Lee), 21 grandchildren and (as of this date) 24 great-grandchildren!

Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, April 5, 2022, at the Rexburg Idaho Center Stake, 590 Summerwood Drive, Rexburg, Idaho, 83440. Viewing will be prior to the service 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM at the same location.

Interment in the Plano Cemetery, located at 5989 West 4500 North Rexburg, ID 83440.

Annette would like to express sincere gratitude to the dedicated professional nurses and aids of Aspen Hospice who immediately worked Bob into their busy schedule mid-December 2021. Also, deep appreciation to the staff of Homestead Assisted Living Center who expertly and tenderly cared for Bob, and Annette, during his brief stay there. We grew to love each one.

Services will be streamed at: https://my.gather.app/remember/robert-ellsworth