Nolan Lee Huff

After living just a decade shy of a century, Nolan Lee Huff passed away peacefully on April 7th, 2022–just a day after his late sweetheart Judy Huff's birthday. He passed away under the loving care of his granddaughter, Rachael Wilson, and the Mercer Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Bluefield, WV at 90 years old. As he told a couple of his granddaughters in recent weeks, “It’s been a good century.”

When Nolan was born, there was no hospital or doctors to assist with his birth–just a few brave women. On July 29, 1931, Nolan was born at his grandparents’ house in Trenton, UT in a small farming community. His mother, Idalia Pearl Brown, gave birth to him with the help of his grandmother, Pearl Butler, and probably a midwife or two as well. His father, Owen Huff, wasn’t able to attend the birth, as he was away working out at the railroad yard in Pocatello on the supply train. Nolan always loved to share that he was only 5 pounds at birth, and his caregivers kept him warm by placing him in an old cook stove away from the flames.

After staying with his grandparents for a while, Nolan and his mother went back up to Pocatello to the family’s one bedroom home at 745 West Bridger St. where Nolan did most of his growing up.

As a child, Nolan would get a quarter from his parents each week. He enjoyed spending his 25¢ allowance by catching a movie at the Chief Theater for 9¢, and then getting a big milkshake for 12¢.

Unbeknownst to his parents, Nolan also enjoyed playing near the Portneuf River, climbing on rocks and catching minnows. Back then, the river didn’t have a fence around it, and people drowned in the river from time to time. Nevertheless, as Nolan put it once, “I heard of a few people that drowned in the river–I was young, and I felt okay.”

Nolan was always a hard worker and an entrepreneur in his heart. As a young boy, he sold kool-aid, magazines, and delivered papers. He also worked at a grocery store for a short time, and he spent most of his evenings in high school working as a pot washer for the Bannock Hotel. When he wasn’t working, Nolan also enjoyed playing clarinet in the band at Pocatello High School.

After Nolan graduated high school, he was hired to work for the Union Pacific Railroad in July of 1950. During that time, many of Nolan’s friends were being drafted for the Korean War. Nolan didn’t want to be drafted, so he joined the Navy in 1951. In 1955, Nolan was honorably discharged as a 2nd class teleman. Nolan was always proud of his service, and he loved the United States of America with all his heart.

On December 14, 1955, Nolan married the love of his life and the only girl he ever kissed, Julia (“Judy”) Mae Sanders. One of the many reasons Nolan fell in love with Judy was because she was such a good listener. He really felt like he could share all of his hopes and dreams with her, and it gave him confidence.

Nolan and Judy were vibrant together. A force for love that people noticed. Together, they raised 5 beautiful children–Janeen, Brian, Denise, Dennis, and Melinda Huff. Music was an integral part of their family. Nolan and Judy taught their children to sing 4 part harmony, and they would all perform in matching outfits at public events. Sundays were also important to the Huff family, as they would attend church and then enjoy Sunday drives together.

As a young father, Nolan worked as a mailman for the U.S. Postal Service for several years. He also tried out a few different entrepreneurial pursuits, and he was hired on as a custodian for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1977 where he worked until he retired.

In the later years of his life, Nolan invested a lot of his time and means in helping his youngest daughter, Melinda, raise her children. It wasn’t an easy job, but he counted himself lucky to have been able to raise two families.

Nolan enjoyed learning and inventing new things, reading, bowling, gardening, canning, keeping family history records, attending the Pocatello Municipal Band summer concerts at Ross Park, and he even enjoyed juggling balls or oranges on occasion. He had a cute laugh, handsome smile, and huge sneezes. His eyes were the friendliest, twinkliest blue, and he had a tender heart.

Near the end of his life, Nolan couldn’t remember much anymore. But to his last breath, he never forgot that he loved his country, his Heavenly Parents and their plan of Happiness, and his beautiful family. 

Nolan was preceded in death by his bride, Judy; parents, Idalia and Owen; siblings Bonnie, Sherrill and Blaine; and daughter, Janeen. He is survived by his children Brian, Denise, Dennis, and Melinda; brother Duane (D.J.); 20 grandchildren, and 26 great-grandchildren.

Family will receive friends at a viewing held on Monday, April 18, 2022, from 10-11am at 655 S Grant Ave. Pocatello, ID 83204. Funeral services will follow directly after the viewing at 11am, followed by a graveside service at Mountain View Cemetery in Pocatello, ID. 

If you have memories of Nolan, please record or type them and email them to Clarissa Jackman at clarissa.jackman.93@gmail.com. Clarissa will be working on putting together a biography for Nolan to share with friends and family.