Orson James Zollinger

SUBLETT – Orson James Zollinger passed away peacefully on Jan. 27, 2015, at the age of 91.

He was born on Dec. 14, 1923, in Sublett, Idaho, to Aaron A. and Hannah Pearl Neddo Zollinger. He was a student at Raft River High School in Malta, Idaho. After graduating, he attended Utah State Agricultural College in Logan, Utah, majoring in mechanics. Orson’s two years in college ended when he volunteered for military service in the spring of 1944. He served in the European Theatre during World War II and saw combat duty with the 10th Armored Division in the 3rd Army under General Patton. He was discharged in the spring of 1946, and returned home to work on the farm. On Nov. 25, 1947, Orson married Donna Jo Tracy of Almo, Idaho, in the Logan Utah LDS Temple. They have six children, Joetta (Larry) Hirschi, Debra (Dave) Donaldson, Tracy (Cliff) Nieves, Connie (Mark) Streeter, Olin (Linda-deceased) Zollinger, and John (Tonya) Zollinger. They have 22 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and siblings, Pearl Hall, Lois Elison, Asiel Zollinger, and Heber Zollinger; and is survived by his sister, Dorothy Murphy.

The Zollinger family has always been involved with cattle. Orson has been a member of the National Cattlemen’s Association and the Idaho Cattlemen’s Association most of his life. Orson started a Hereford purebred herd with his brothers. In 1949, he started showing cattle at the various cattle shows and sales and won several trophies along the way.

Orson served nine years as a director of the Idaho Hereford Breeders Association. He was a member of the Utah Cattlemen’s Classic Association, held in conjunction with the Utah Cattlemen’s Convention in Salt Lake City.

Orson has also been an active member of the Idaho Grain Growers Association and the Cassia County Wheat Growers Association. He was elected to the Cassia County Stabilization and Conservation Committee three different times, serving more than 20 years in all. In the fall of 1956, Orson helped organize the first Soil Conservation District in Cassia County and served nine years on the board.

Orson was elected to the Raft River Electric Board in 1969 and served nine years. In the spring of 1970, Orson was elected to the board of directors of the Northwest Intertie and served six years. After Northwest Intertie was discontinued, he served on the board of directors of Pacific Northwest Generating Co. for two years.

Orson was a lifetime member of the LDS Church and served in many capacities. He especially enjoyed serving as a church auditor. Orson and Donna served one year in Nashville, Tenn. on a microfilming mission. They served for seven years in the Logan Utah LDS Temple.

Orson enjoyed hunting, fishing, and in his later years, golf. Orson and Donna enjoyed traveling in the United States, Europe, Hawaii, Mexico, Canada, Israel, and Egypt.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Malta LDS Church with Bishop Brad Hutchison officiating. Military rites will be provided by the Mini-Cassia Veterans Organization. Burial will be in the Valley Vu Cemetery.

Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Saturday at the church.

The family would like to express appreciation for the care given by the Minidoka Memorial Hospital.