Vernon Lindhorst

Vernon Henry Lindhorst, 77, of Idaho Falls, died June 17, 2012, doing what he loved. Vern was born February 7, 1935, in Linn County, Kansas, to Henry and Hattie Lindhorst. He grew up in Kansas and Beatrice, Nebraska, and attended Beatrice High School. Vern married Helen Louise Burgess on December 15, 1961, in Sacramento, California. They were lifelong sweeties, celebrating their 50th anniversary this past year. Vern was a country boy at heart. He loved gardening, cooking, bicycling, and visiting his family throughout the West. He knew the best places to pick huckleberries and always had the fullest bucket. On the day he died, he planted an artichoke that would take 120 days to produce fruit – he was a man of great hope given the typical Idaho growing season. Since the day was beautiful and without the usual eastern Idaho wind, he decided to go on one of his 25 mile bike rides. A kind passer-by found him in the road and called 911. He received wonderful care at EIRMC, especially from Lynsey, Doug, and Deb. Vern loved flying, so he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Kansas in 1959. Sadly for him, he couldn’t fly jets because of his eyesight, but he did obtain his small plane pilot’s license. His first job was in Denver at Martin Marietta, he transferred a few years later to Jackass Flats in Nevada, where he worked for Los Alamos. He and his family moved to Ammon, Idaho, in 1968, and he worked for many years both at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory and Energy, Inc. During his employment, he developed computer software systems for top-secret military projects, which he wouldn’t discuss with his family . . . much to their chagrin and his amusement. Since adolescence, Vern had a serious auto-immune disorder that he was told would end his life early. When he turned 50, he realized he would live longer than he had thought and he wanted his life to change, so he took up bicycling. He rode in several century rides and cycling events, including the Tour of the Swan River Valley in Montana and Cycle Oregon. He took up hiking in later years and summited (almost) the Grand Teton. In April of this year, he bicycled into Yellowstone National Park as part of his efforts to banish the Idaho winter. Vern was an avid reader, particularly of Tony Hillerman and non-fiction books on nature. His favorite poem was “The Cremation of Sam McGee,” which he memorized and recited whenever anyone would let him. Upon his retirement, he and Helen thoroughly enjoyed traveling, not only in the U.S., but also to Iceland to see the Northern Lights, and on various cruises with their family where he ate to his heart’s content. All that free food. Vern had great loyalty for his family. He is survived by his wife, Helen, of Ammon; his children, Taryn (Cindy) Lindhorst of Seattle, WA; Ross (Amy) Lindhorst of Salt Lake City, UT; and Pam (Jack) Allen of Eugene, OR; his grandchildren, Jared, Melynda, Timothy, Marcus, and Stephen, and his older sister, Nadine (Jim) Ilten of Chicago, IL; and younger sister, Janet (Garry) Fuller of Castle Rock, CO. He was preceded in death by his parents and his youngest daughter, Tracy Michelle Lindhorst. Memorial Services for Vern will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, June 21, 2012, at Wood Funeral Home East Side, 963 South Ammon Road, with his brother-in-law, Reverend James Ilten officiating. The family will visit with friends from 1:00 to 1:45 p.m. prior to the services. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to the Yellowstone Park Foundation, 222 East Main Street, #301, Bozeman, MT 59715, or online.

Memorial Services -- Thursday

2:00 p.m. ,Thursday, June 21, 2012 Wood Funeral Home East Side 963 South Ammon Road Idaho Falls, ID, Bonneville 83406 Notes: The family will visit with friends from 1:00 to 1:45 p.m. Thursday at Wood Funeral Home East Side.