William Howard “Bill” Wells

OAKLEY – William Howard “Bill” Wells, age 85, passed away peacefully at his home on the evening of September 5th, 2017.

Bill was born on January 22, 1932, to Harold Gilbert Wells and Alice Mae Miller Wells. He grew up in Oakley, Idaho, until the summer of 1952, when he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He spent two years stationed in Austria. When he arrived home, he met Edith Gay Heiner and after a short courtship, they were married August 11, 1955, in Elko, Nevada. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Idaho Falls Idaho LDS Temple, on March 4, 1964. Bill was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Bill and Gay ranched in Oakley for 60 years. They raised Angus-cross cattle, alfalfa hay, horses, dogs and kids. Bill always felt very fortunate that he could make a living doing the very things that he loved to do. Bill loved his family. He was supportive of his children and grandchildren and attended as many of their activities as he could. His kind, gentle nature and his quiet example of hard work and integrity have influenced the lives of many people. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Bill’s surviving family includes his wife, Edith Gay; and their six children, Kelly (Darlene) Wells of Oakley, Richard (Marsha) Wells of Buhl, Sandy (Chris) Poulton of Oakley, Lenard (Tiffany) Wells of Oakley, Alice (Dean) Reno, of Paul, Billie (Guy) Tolman of Twin Falls; twenty-five grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his two sisters and their husbands, Velma (Wayne) Boothe of Spanish Fork, Utah, and LuDean (Don) Prentice of Moses Lake, Washington.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept 16, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Oakley Stake Center, 355 N. Center Ave., with Bishop Jim Cooper officiating. Burial will be in the Oakley Cemetery with military rites performed by the Mini-Cassia Veterans Organization.

A visitation will be held at Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, where family and friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday, Sept 15, and at the church from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Saturday, prior to the service.