James & Carol Armstrong

James Thelbern “Ted” Armstrong was born to James and Elgeva Armstrong in Elgin, Idaho. Carol May Cook was born to Jeremy and Alice Cook in Osgood, Idaho. Ted and Carol both attended Idaho Falls High School. They married in 1961; they were sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple on June 13, 1992.  They had four children, six grandchildren, six great grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren.

In 1956, at the age of 18, Ted began his dream job as a diesel truck driver to California and Montana (mostly on two lane roads). In 1959, he started hauling livestock to Denver and Portland, Oregon. In 1961, he was hauling gasoline and diesel to Montana, Utah, and Idaho farmers. He drove trucks for over 40 years with Blair Dean, Edwards Brothers, Jack Clawson Oil, Teton Stage Lines, and Idaho Nuclear Test Site Bus.

Carol started working at a bank in 1960 as a teller, and worked her way up to Operations Officer. She retired from the West One Bank in 1995 to take care of her parents. She was always helping others and very involved with her church.

They loved to spend time at their property in Island Park, Idaho. Many weekends and vacations were spent there with family and friends fishing, camping, enjoying nature, and snowmobiling.

They lived in Idaho Falls for over 40 years, meeting wonderful neighbors and making many friends. Due to health issues, they sold their home and moved to Pahrump, Nevada, in 2003. They built a beautiful home which overlooked the mountains and provided them the opportunity to view many sunrises and sunsets. Ted and Carol were very active in the Homestead Ward of the LDS Church. They held many positions at the church and enjoyed helping those in need.

Ted loved to putter in his yard with his tractor, back hoe, and other miscellaneous Big Boy toys, which kept him busy. Carol was a Master Gardner and had a beautiful landscaped yard of roses, fruit trees, and flowering bushes. They loved to work in the yard together, but couldn’t agree on watering schedules. They would hop in their golf cart, drive around the yard and enjoy the fruits of their labor. Ted’s feral cats would follow them all around the yard.

Ted and Carol are preceded in their death by their parents and siblings, their son, Anthony “Tony” Armstrong, and son-in-law, Terry (Fig) Simkins. They are survived by daughters, Judy (Larry) Rapoza of California, Tamie (Terry) Simkins of Nevada, and Tracy (Brady) Case of Colorado. They are also survived by daughter-in-law, Debra Aldridge-Armstrong, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. June 11, 2024, at Wood Funeral Home East Side, 963 S. Ammon Road, Ammon, Idaho. It will be followed by the graveside dedication at Taylor Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the local Idaho Falls Animal Shelter.