Theron Oleen Stokes

Theron Oleen Stokes, 86, passed away peacefully, Thursday, May 14, 2015 at a care facility.

Theron was born December 23, 1928 to Oleen and Fern Austin Stokes in Tremonton, Utah. He was the second child in a family of four. He has one older sister, Velva Lee Smith (deceased), and two younger brothers, George Stokes and Glen Stokes.
At an early age the family moved to Burley, Idaho, where his father was engaged in farming. In 1945 the family purchased a farm in Rockland, Idaho where they lived for several years and farmed.

Theron graduated from Rockland High School in 1947, then attended Utah State University, after which he served an LDS mission to Australia. Upon his return, he married his sweetheart Lola Mae Haskell, in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on February 28, 1951. They continued to work on the family farm in Rockland with his father and brothers, George and Glen.

In 1962, Theron was employed as an agent in the Farm Bureau Insurance Company in Burley, Idaho. In 1963 he became manager of Madison, Freemont, Teton, and Clark counties and the family moved to Rexburg, Idaho.

In 1970, the family moved to Pocatello, Idaho where Theron was appointed Regional Sales Manager in the home office of Idaho Farm Bureau Insurance Company. In 1979, Theron accepted the position of State Sales Director for the Utah Farm Bureau Insurance Company and the family moved to Sandy, Utah for 8 years. While working in the insurance business, Theron was the local Life Underwriters Association President and also President of the Estate Planning Council.

Theron retired in 1986 because of ill health. In 1987 he received the "Gift of Life" (a new heart), which he had for 28 years.

Theron was always an active member of the LDS Church and held many positions including Missionary, Counselor in the Rockland LDS Ward, Bishop of the Sandy, Utah ward, Counselor in a Bishopric 3 times, Stake Sunday School President, High Counselor, and his favorite position was teaching the Gospel Doctrine class for many years. Theron and his wife Lola were called on a 3 year mission to serve as Officiators in the Idaho Falls Temple and continued to serve for a number of years after that.

Theron had a beautiful tenor voice and enjoyed singing. He loved singing in the ward choirs wherever he lived.

Theron loved his wife and family dearly and many good times were spent together with family and many dear friends at their cabin in Island Park; hunting, fishing, boating and snowmobiling. He loved meeting people and always had a story to tell - much to the delight of his family.

After his retirement, he and his wife lived in Island Park, Idaho in the summer. They traveled to Mesa, Arizona and St. George, Utah in the winter, where they greatly enjoyed square dancing and singing in the choirs.

Theron and Lola traveled extensively throughout the United States, to Europe, Mexico, Hawaii, Switzerland, Spain, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and Jamaica.

Survivors include his wife Lola, five children; Steven (Terri) of Pocatello, Idaho; Patricia (Dallas) Powell of Orem, Utah; Pamela (Cory) Dunn of Greeley, Colorado; Michael (Jackie) of Pocatello, Idaho; and Jeffrey (Sandra) Henderson, Nevada; 24 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and two brothers; George (Fran) and Glen (Mary Anne). Theron was preceded in death by his parents, a sister Velva Lee Smith and his granddaughter Jennifer Powell.

He was a very special person, loving husband and devoted father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was deeply loved and will be greatly missed by all.

Funeral services for Theron will be held at 11:00 am, Tuesday, May 19, 2015 at the Independence LDS Ward Chapel, 4773 Independence, Chubbuck, Idaho. A viewing will be held 6-8:00 pm Monday evening at Wilks Funeral Home 211 W Chubbuck Rd, and one hour prior to services. The interment will follow services on Tuesday at the Valley View Cemetery in Rockland, Idaho.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.wilksfuneralhome.com.