Lane Richard Jenkins

Lane Richard Jenkins, was born 7 April 1930 at Rawlings, WY, to Myrtle Alice Morehouse and Lawrence James Jenkins, arriving 15 minutes after his twin brother, Roger Lee Jenkins. On 20 July 2023, at his home in Donnelly, ID, surrounded by loving family, Richard stubbornly passed from his earthly life into Paradise, at age 93.

Born Lane Richard, Richard spent his life answering to his middle name. Up until the age of 10 Richard lived in Rawlins and Baggs, WY. Later his family moved to New Acres, ID. He attended elementary, junior and senior high school in Fruitland, ID graduating in 1949. Richard was active in 4-H, FFA and church as a youth. Richard devoted his life to industrious labor and service. His youth was spent helping his stepfather, Francis Curtis Fry, homesteading and literally claiming the land from sagebrush and turning it into the family farm in New Acres. As a young married man in Idaho Richard’s first employments were as dairy herdsman, farmer and furniture deliveryman. Later he moved to Sacramento, CA where he was a Borden Milkman for 3.5 years, earning Salesman of the Year his second year. Upon his return to Fruitland, ID, Richard went to work for the Fruitland School District where he was employed as a maintenance and custodial worker and bus driver for 27 years. During that time, Richard became the Head Custodian and Maintenance Supervisor for the entire school district, earning the beloved name of “Mr. Jenkins.” No request a teacher made was too small or too large for him to accomplish. Teachers, students and parents alike loved Mr. Jenkins who trained several generations of student custodial workers. Upon his retirement a scholarship was created to honor a student custodian worker who was trained by Mr. Jenkins.

Richard married Ruthele Sissel on 25 June 1949 and then were sealed on 9 February 1956 in the Salt Lake Utah temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Over the years their family grew to include six sons and one daughter: Wesley, Denny, James, Randal, Sidney, Aaron and Dona Maria. They divorced in early 1983.

On 13 August 1983, Richard married Georgia Lorraine Lyons Wright for time and eternity in the Idaho Falls Idaho temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Lorraine brought three children Mona, Daniel, and Fawn Wright into the family.

Richard enjoyed serving his family, his community, his church and at work - always going the extra mile.

He was an accomplished self-taught handyman who became adept at electrical, plumbing, woodworking and was willing to take on any other project with which someone needed help. One of his huge projects was finishing the interior of the family cabin at Donnelly, ID. He always participated in the McCall Community Woodstock projects and spent countless hours crafting wooden gifts for his family and friends.

As an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints he fulfilled callings as Scout Master twice, teacher, ward clerk, executive secretary, stake clerk and Bishop’s counselor. After retirement in 1994, Richard and Lorraine served five full-time church missions totaling 7.5 years of service - including: Illinois, Nauvoo; Australia, Melbourne; Alabama, Birmingham State Archive; North Carolina, Charlotte and Illinois, Nauvoo Temple. In 1997 they had the opportunity to serve as Camp Jacks for the Pioneer Sesquicentennial Wagon Train where Richard was dubbed, The Bell Ringer and Lorraine, The Potty Lady. The train traveled over 1,000 miles in 93 days.

Richard’s warm smile and cheery personality will be missed by his family and friends, among whom he was known for his kindness, quick wit, humor, memory for names, accommodating disposition, gratitude and words of support.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents Alice, Lawrence and Curtis, previous wife Ruthele, his son Denny, daughter-in-law Loraine Jenkins, son-in-law Rick Abbot, his siblings Roger (Shirley) and Larry Jenkins and Mary Jo (George) Grossman, brother-in-laws Clair Beus and Gene Haggerty, and sister-in-law Sherrie Fry. He is survived by his wife Lorraine, children Wes (Alyson), Jim (Elaine), Randy (Paula), Sid, Dona, Aaron (Omar), Mona (Mark) Gregersen, Daniel (Denise) Wright and Fawn (Steve) Peterson, siblings Corynne Beus, Gerry Haggerty, Tammy Bradley, Frank Fry, Jesse (Maryanne) Fry and Lela (John) Hess and 49 grandchildren, 101 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

Viewing will be from 4-8 p.m. Friday, 28 July 2023 in McCall Funeral Home - Heikkila Chapel, McCall, ID.

Graveside Interment will be 9 a.m., Saturday, 29 July 2023 in Holmes Cemetery, Donnelly, ID.

Family will greet visitors from 10 – 10:45 a.m. followed by a Family Prayer at 10:45 a.m. and Memorial Services at 11:00 a.m. in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 400 Elo Rd., McCall, ID.

Lorraine has requested that any memorials come in the form of donations in Richard’s name to the Donnelly Public Library in lieu of live flowers.

Online condolences may be left at www.mccallfunerals.com

Arrangements in care of McCall Funeral Home.