Rusty Barlow

William Lynn (Rusty) Barlow returned to his Heavenly Father on June 30, 2014, in Tyhee, Idaho.

Rusty was born July 17, 1942, in Bingham Canyon, Utah, to F. G. (Bill) and Beth Orrock Barlow. They moved to Portland, Oregon, during the war and then moved to Pocatello when he was seven. He spent his childhood and many summers at his grandparents' homes in Utah playing with his cousins, brothers and sisters. He attended schools in Pocatello, graduating from Pocatello High School and attended Idaho State University. After graduation from high school, he served a two-year LDS Mission in the Southwest Indian Mission in Arizona, which began his extraordinary love of the Indian people. He enlisted in the Navy and was assigned to a specialized Seabee construction team in Vietnam. He was honorably discharged and returned home. Using his GI Bill, he became a private aviation pilot. He married Andrea Lee Davis on August 21, 1969, in the Salt Lake City Temple, and they have been married for 44 years. He worked for the family business, Barlows' Inc. with his father and brothers for many years as an electrician, and he eventually became an electrical contractor owning his own business.

Rusty taught his children lifelong skills; he loved his children and grandchildren teaching them to love and serve others. In the Children's Primary Songbook, the song, "Daddy's Homecoming," epitomizes how the Barlow children literally would jump up and down running to their dad every time he would come home. He is the father of five boys and two girls, Britt, Michael, Kent, Dennis, Ray, Valerie, and Shelley. He has 23 grandchildren and one great-grandson. As his seven children were growing up, he spent his time at their various activities including: baseball, basketball, football, archery, boxing, and bicycling. It was not unusual for the Rusty Barlow family to be bicycling around the American Falls Reservoir several times a week or circling the mountain through Mink Creek and through Arbon Valley and home during the week. They enjoyed the bicycle tours including several 500 mile trips from near the Canadian border to Pocatello or around Idaho City and home with his boys and friends; they participated in challenging bike tours, including the White Knob Challenge and other cycling events. He was active in the Gate City Boxing Club supporting his boys who became state and regional boxing champions.
Before he ventured into politics, you could find him in the clouds. His passion was flying airplanes; he took his family into the air with him, and they traveled around the surrounding country. The family saw beautiful peaks and valleys in the rugged primitive country of the West.

He had a great and deep love for this country and became politically involved in Republican politics; he served as a Bannock county Republican precinct committeeman, Bannock County Republican Central Committee Chairman, Idaho Regional #7 Republican Chairman, and the Idaho State Republican Executive Committee. He was elected to the Idaho State House of Representatives representing Bingham, Bannock and Power Counties in the Idaho State Legislature for three terms. He was the major house sponsor of the Equal Rights Amendment Rescinder to the U. S. Constitution, which was the first bill that he sponsored as a freshman legislator and he sponsored numerous other bills defending freedoms and liberties. He served on the House Revenue and Taxation, Transportation and Defense, and Printing and Legislative Expenses Committees. Rusty went to Washington, DC with his family as they successfully won their landmark case, Barlow vs. OSHA in the U. S. Supreme Court. During his whole life he continued to be a national leader in organizations supporting liberty, freedom and the Constitution. He served on the National Executive Board of the Freedom First Society and was Idaho's Coordinator.

He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; he served in many capacities: high priest, seventy, branch president and counselor in several branch presidencies, service missionary, full-time missionary, young men president, ward and branch clerk, and other callings. He served until he could no longer attend his meetings because of health.
Finally, his greatest legacy of his life was his life of service to his family and friends. He helped so many strangers with a helping hand, even bringing a stranded family home with him, or helping the homeless or those in need. These were the special moments of his life. Many friendships were because Rusty was willing to help others and he loved people.

He is survived by his wife, Andrea; four sons and two daughters: Britt Barlow, Pocatello, ID; Valerie (Edmund) Harris Waikoloa, HI; Shelley (Kelly) Williams Pocatello, ID; Mike (Heather) Barlow Tyhee, ID; Dennis (Jennifer) Barlow Pocatello, ID; and Ray (Elisabeth) Barlow Pocatello, ID; David Tat Davis (nephew) and Sharon (Bryan) Smith (niece). He is survived by 21 grandchildren, brothers and sisters, Bob (Barbara) Barlow, Nancy (Robert) Jensen, Becky (Ron) Nielson, Wayne (Linda) Barlow, and Joe Barlow; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is also survived by a granddaughter, Sister Truma Echo Harris, serving in the Oakland/San Francisco LDS Mission and his beloved mother-in-law, Truma Davis. He was preceded in death by parents, Bill and Beth Barlow; a beloved brother, Max Jerry Barlow; a son, Kent Samuel Barlow; two grandchildren, London and John Harris; and a great-grandson, Manti Harris. We will be anxiously awaiting our reunion with him in the days and years ahead with great joy and love.

The family would like to express their grateful appreciation for the thoughts and prayers of many friends and the community.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 7, 2014, at the Tyhee LDS Stake Center, 12146 W. Tyhee Road, at 11:00AM. Interment following the funeral will be at the Lava Hot Springs Cemetery, Lava, ID with Military Rites provided by the Lava Hot Springs American Legion, Francies G. Fagnant Post #88 and Idaho National Honor Guard. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wilks Funeral Home, 211 W. Chubbuck Rd., Pocatello, (208) 238-8000.