Sylverus K. Hope, 76, of Rexburg, died March 21, 2016, at his home after a year long battle with cancer.

He was born November 13, 1939, to Clarence Dewey Hope and Zella Keppner Hope. The first twelve years of his life were spent on his family's farm in Burton, west of Rexburg. He fondly remembered riding horses and playing with his brothers and sisters in all the activities that only a farm can provide. He attended Burton Elementary School. At 12 years old, the family moved to Darlington, Idaho to a much larger ranch. He attended Moore Elementary School and Butte High School, where his favorite activity was playing basketball. After graduating high school he joined the Army Reserves , spending several summers in training.

Sylverus met and married Paula Muir on August 7, 1963, in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. The ran the family farm for 5 years and were blessed with two boys, Stanley and Gary. They sold the farm and moved to Rexburg where Sylverus got a job working at Ricks College as a custodian. Six months later they were blessed with a baby girl, Valon. She was followed by Brian, Matthew, Nathan, Jason and Rochelle.

Sylverus worked for Ricks College/BYU-Idaho for 35 years and retired in 2003. Family is the most important thing to him and everything he did in his life was for his family. They brought him the most joy and happiness. His favorite activities were fishing, hunting and camping. He also enjoyed gardening and anything where his children and grandchildren were involved. He has 37 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

Sylverus and Paula served a mission for the LDS church from 2008 to 2010. They served in the Phoenix, Arizona Mission, where they labored on the Navajo Indian Reservation. He also served as a Sunday School President and High Priest Group Leader. He was serving in the Rexburg Temple until he was diagnosed with cancer.

Sylverus is survived by his wife, Paula Muir Hope of Rexburg; children, Stanley (Donette) Hope of Port Angeles, Washington, Gary (JoAnn) Hope of Rexburg, Valon (Steve) Kirkham of Shelley, Brian (Kristi) Hope of Saratoga Springs, Utah, Matthew (Michele) Hope of Idaho Falls, Nathan (Lana) Hope of Meridian, Idaho, Jason (Michelle) Hope of Lehi, Utah, Rochelle (Paul) Kent of Rexburg; siblings, Lennis (Verla) Hope of Moses Lake, Washington, Leroy (Maxine) Hope of Idaho Falls, Elden Hope of Shelley, Rozella McHenry of Billings, Montana, Laura Huffaker of Rigby, LaVere Hope if Idaho Falls, Phillis (Leon) Powell of Moore; a brother-in-law Clyde Huffaker of Nampa; mother-in-law Eloise Muir of Rexburg; 36 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; father-in-law Rulin George Muir; siblings Lauris Hope, Darrell Hope, and Marie Huffaker; brothers-in-law, Chuck McHenry and Merrill Huffaker; sisters-in-law Joan Hope, Kaye Hope, Donna Hope and Joyce Hope; and a grandson Brantly Kirkham.

We will miss his great sense of humor and we will cherish all of the fun and loving memories that we had with him. We know that we will be reunited again someday and it will be a joyous reunion.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 26th at the Lyman 1st Ward Chapel. The family will receive friends Friday evening from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Flamm Funeral Home and again from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment will be in the Rexburg Cemetery. Condolences may be sent online to www.flammfh.com.