Our beloved father, Robert Bleak Powell, passed away on June 18, 2021, one month before his 92nd birthday. He was out biking with friends when he suffered a massive heart attack. As the saying goes, "He went out with his boots on".

Robert Bleak Powell (Bob) was born on July 14, 1929 in Coalville, Utah to Edward and Artemesia Powell. He was the youngest of seven children and grew up on the family farm in Upton, 16 miles east of Coalville.

Bob graduated from North Summit High School in 1947 and attended Utah State Agricultural College in Logan Utah, where he enrolled in the ROTC program. While training at Fort Lewis, Washington the United States got involved in the Korean war. A draft was reinstituted but Bob had already submitted his mission papers and received his mission call while in camp and was set apart as a missionary before he got drafted, which made him eligible for a deferment.

He was called to serve two years in the New Zealand mission. He and his companion were the first in Church history to be flown overseas rather than ride on a ship. His mission was extended for another six months because of the war.

Bob graduated in the Spring of 1953 from the University of Utah with a degree in Art. After running out of deferments he was drafted into the army in August and was assigned to the Army Counter Intelligence Corp (CIC) where he worked in the Pentagon typing classified documents related to the Cold War.

After being discharged from the Army he attended BYU to work on his Master's Degree. He met the love of his life, Elizabeth Howard, and they sealed their love in the Idaho Falls Temple on August 9, 1957. Elizabeth graduated with a degree in Elementary Education and they both took jobs teaching school. Bob decided that teaching Jr. High was not for him and returned to BYU, graduating with his Master's degree in 1960.

He was offered a one-year contract at Ricks College in Rexburg after which he enrolled in the Los Angeles County Art School which enabled him to receive a full time position at Ricks College. They bought a home in Salem in 1965 where they raised their five children. Their farmhouse was destroyed by the flood in 1976 so they built a new one on the same property.

Bob taught Art at Ricks for 33 years and served as a Division Chairman and a Department Chairman. He held various callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints including high council, bishop, counselor in the stake presidency and a counselor in the bishopric. After retiring, he and Elizabeth served a two year mission to Brisbane, Australia from 1994 to 1996.

After his eternal companion passed away in January, 2019, Bob sold the family home and moved to Rexburg into the cottages at the Homestead. He is survived by his children, Bob (Nancy), Karen (Myron Williams), Rick (Holly), Kaylene (Greg Elder), and Randy (Shauna), 21 grandchildren, and four great grandchildren. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Services may be viewed at: https://youtu.be/xIVFZ7yTVs8