Dee Armstrong

Dee LeRoy Armstrong passed away December 30, 2010, at his home in Iona, Idaho, from causes incident to age. Dee was a devoted family man, loved the outdoors, was a master gardener and loved teaching in the school system. He was dedicated to community, served on the Iona City Council and was instrumental in starting the Iona Sewer Board on which he served for many years. Dee was a faithful servant and loved his church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was born May 3, 1927, in Rexburg, Idaho, to Delbert LeRoy (Bud) Armstrong and Laura Mae Johnson Armstrong. He grew up in Rexburg, where he attended Washington and Adams Elementary schools. He loved school. He entered Madison High School in 1941, where he excelled in all his classes and particularly enjoyed math. He was President of his Senior class, and was active in many activities including choir, playing the violin and had a very good singing voice. When he was 12 years old, Dee went into the scouting program where a requirement was opening a savings account with money he earned. He was a hard worker all his life, and continued what he'd learned with excellent money saving and budgeting practices. At age 12, Dee got a part time stock and bag boy job at Broulim's Market. He continued to work there through high school, and the boss liked his work performance so much that he was promoted to Clerk by the young age of 14. This being the war years, the local National Guard was called up. Young men at the age of 16 ½ could join the Guard, which is what Dee and his friend did. About a year later, he and his friend joined the U.S. Navy under what was called the Minority Cruise. He was allowed to graduate high school, then immediately began boot camp June 7, 1945, at the San Diego Naval Training Center. He was assigned to the "Wildcat W2" ship which was stationed in the Pacific near the Philippines. The war ended August 14, 1945, and Dee was discharged from the Navy on July 8, 1946. In 1947, he began his college years at Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho. For a short while Ricks College was a 4-year institution, and Dee graduated in the spring of 1950 with an Education major bachelor’s degree. He met Erma Burke in 1947. They were married and sealed for time and all eternity in the Idaho Falls, Idaho Temple on June 8, 1949. They lived in Rexburg until college graduation and Dee worked for the summer in construction of the new Rexburg hospital. At this time, School District 93 consolidated the Iona, Ucon and Ammon school districts. Dee was offered a job teaching at Iona High School, where he taught general science, geometry, type I and journalism. This began a 33 year career with School District 93. He later received his master’s degree and worked for the District 93 in many positions, including math and science teacher, assistant principal, principal, counselor, school psychologist and district superintendent. Of all his work in the school system, Dee enjoyed teaching the most, and he loved his students. Dee designed, and with the help of friends and family, built his family's home in Iona, Idaho. He and Erma moved into this home the fall of 1958, where they raised their family: Michael, Teresa, Bradley, Gordon, Judy and Jill. Sadly, on July 9, 1969, their son, Bradley, was killed in an accident. Dee’s beloved wife, Erma, passed away November 2, 1981, after a five year battle with Lou Gehrig's disease. Dee made it through these trying times with the love and support of family and friends. On April 30, 1982, Dee married his beloved wife, Reta Thomson Paxman. Their marriage was solemnized in the Idaho Falls Temple April 30, 1983. That marriage added three more children to Dee's family: Alan, Wade and Carol Paxman. Dee and Reta had 28 enjoyable years together and traveled to many interesting places like Alaska, China, the Caribbean and Europe. Dee loved anything associated with the outdoors: archery, hunting, fishing, camping, horseback riding, igloo building and trying to run his blue pickup into a ravine! He was holding a fishing pole from toddlerhood. He loved fishing and hunting with his father, sons, sons-in-law and grandchildren, and loved camping with his family. Dee very much loved his family and grandchildren. His membership in and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was very important to Dee. He was always active in the church and served as ward clerk, explorer leader, teacher of many classes, High Councilor, Bishop of the Iona 2nd Ward and Second Counselor in the Iona Stake Presidency. He and Reta worked together in the Idaho Falls Temple for three years and served a full-time mission to Melford, Saskatchewan, Canada. Dee was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Bert Armstrong, his son, Bradley J. Armstrong, his beloved wife, Erma Marcella Burke Armstrong, his step-daughter, Carol Paxman Stuart, his grandson, Brodie Stuart, and his step-son, Alan J. Paxman. He is having quite a reunion in heaven! He is survived by his wife, Reta T. Armstrong, son, Michael Dee (Ginny) Armstrong, daughter, Teresa Armstrong Hart, son, Gordon Burke (Julie) Herbert, step-son, Wade T. (Staci) Paxman, daughter, Judy Armstrong (Dale) Cook, daughter, Jill Armstrong (Casey) McCray, 24 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, January 4, 2010, at the Iona LDS 11th Ward, 4707 East Iona Road, with Bishop Robert Bodily officiating. The family will visit with friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday at Wood Funeral Home East Side, 963 South Ammon Road, and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to the services. Interment will be at the Iona Cemetery. The family wishes to express sincere thanks to all who have helped and who have expressed their love and concern during these difficult times. Please no flowers. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the LDS Church Humanitarian Services, 50 East North Temple Street, Floor 7, Salt Lake City, UT 84150-6890, or at www.ldsphilanthropies.org/humanitarian-services or the LDS Temple Building Fund at www.lds.org. Military Rites will be performed by the Bonneville County Veterans Memorial Team and Idaho Honor Guard.

Funeral Services

11 a.m. ,Tuesday, January 4, 2011 Iona LDS 11th Ward 4707 East Iona Road Iona, ID 83427 Notes: The family will visit with friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday at Wood Funeral Home East Side, 963 South Ammon Road, and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to the services. Interment will be at the Iona Cemetery.