Kenneth Roy Frederiksen died on Dec. 25, 2015, at his home in Nampa, Idaho. He was born April 27, 1927, in Lewisville, Idaho, to parents Hans Edward Frederiksen and Leah Virginia (McGovern) Frederiksen of Kilgore, Idaho. Ken was raised with his three sisters and three brothers on the family ranch in Kilgore.
He attended Kilgore School through the ninth grade. He accepted an invitation to live with relatives in Lewisville and attend Midway High School, where he enjoyed playing all three years on the Midway Pirates football and basketball teams. On his 18th birthday, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and reported for basic training following his high school graduation in the spring of 1945.
In the fall of 1946, Ken enrolled as a student at the University of Idaho, graduating in 1950 with a degree in animal husbandry. Upon graduation he accepted a job with Albers Milling Company in Seattle. Having been offered a position with the University of Idaho at the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station in Dubois, Idaho, in 1951, he returned to Clark County and was employed by the research station for the next 32 years in administration and research. In 1961, being granted a leave of absence, Ken returned to college to earn his master’s degree in animal nutrition from Colorado State University. During his employment at the USSES, he was recognized for his research into the rearing of orphan lambs using milk replacer diets and automatic feeders.
In 1978, during a six-month sabbatical leave from the station, Ken toured agricultural experiment stations throughout the United States, acquiring information regarding their operations and the research being done. After retiring from the sheep station in 1983, he served an additional year with the university as assistant to the dean of agriculture touring the agricultural experiment stations in the state to observe and recommend needed facility improvements.
Ken is survived by his wife Nancy; son, Philip Frederiksen (Anne) of Spokane, Wash.; and daughters, MiChele Frederiksen Stefanic of Boise and Karen (David) Simon of Fairfield, Idaho. He is also survived by his six grandsons: Daniel (Cassie) Frederiksen and Brian (Elizabeth) Frederiksen, Michael and Matthew Stefanic and Andrew and Isaac Simon, and two great-grandchildren.
James Alfred Hoopes was called home unexpectedly on Dec. 28, 2015, in Phoenix.
Lovingly known as Jimmie, he was born on June 22, 1929, in Lyman, Wyo., to Burl O. and Mildred Hoopes. He married the love of his life, Sandi Padgett, legally on May 27, 1975. The marriage was later solemnized in the Logan, Utah, temple on Aug. 4, 1980. Their lives took form in Lyman, where he ran heavy equipment for construction. But his love was shearing sheep, which he pursued for 61 years. He taught all of his children, and then grandchildren how to work hard. His children remember him as a loving, driven and family-oriented man who encouraged them to follow their dreams.
Jimmie was accomplished in shearing sheep and served as vice president and president of the Sheep Shearer’s Union for 26 years. He was the oldest member of the Sheep Shearer’s Union until his death. Shearing sheep was a true passion for Jimmie. Throughout his many years of working sheep, he sheared more than one million collectively, and two million including tagging sheep. He also volunteered his time to shearing sheep for local 4-H participants.
Jimmie was an active member of the LDS Church and a home teacher for 32 years. He never once missed a visit. Jimmie had a love of travel and the outdoors. He taught all of his children and grandchildren to hunt and fish. He would often take them on picnics, a long drive and to hunt rocks.
He is survived by his wife, Sandi Hoopes of Lyman, Wyoming; Children, James D. (Carol) Hoopes, Rick (Debby) Hoopes, Pam (Bob) Brown all of Lyman, Wyoming; Randy (Corrine) Hoopes of Roy, Utah; Kris (Merrill) Stringer of Robertson, Wyoming; Cliff (Dawna) Hoopes of Fort Bridger, Wyoming; and Kari (John) Combs of Queen Creek, Arizona. James is also survived by multiple nieces and nephews as well as his only surviving sister-in-law, Dorothy Livingston of Price, Utah. Additionally, his legacy continues in the hearts of 26 grandchildren, 59 great-grandchildren, and 30 great-great-grandchildren, and his service dog Maggie.
In lieu of flowers, a fund has been set up at Wells Fargo Bank for the Jim Hoopes Memorial Fund to benefit his wife Sandi, as he would have wanted.
Milton Cranney Ward, 60, died on Jan. 10 at his home in Paris, Idaho. He was born on May 3, 1955, in Logan, Utah, to Glen Passey and Carol Cranney Ward. He was raised in Paris, Idaho, on the family farm and ranch. He graduated from Bear Lake High School in 1973 and was a member of the LDS Church.
Milt grew up ranching and worked a full day’s work and then some his entire life. He was an expert horseman, cattleman and sheep man. He not only loved the cowboy way of life, he lived it every day.
Milt was very involved in the sheep industry. He served on several boards, including the board of directors for the Idaho Wool Growers Association and the American Sheep Industry Association. He was also a past president of the National Lamb Feeders Association and past president of the Sid Butte Livestock Association.
Milt ran the Jouglard Sheep Company Outfit and Ranch for 15 years with Alicia Dredge, the ranch owner. Milt and Alicia had a wonderful partnership and built a thriving, successful ranch operation. They talked on the phone at least once every day concerning the ranch and just life in general.
He is survived by his life partner, Danielle Gunn, Blackfoot, Idaho; four brothers, Keith (Pam) Ward, Richmond, Utah; Kendell (Sonia), Paris, Idaho; Brian, Montpelier, Idaho; Dale (Char), Brigham City, Utah; two sisters, Mary (Rondo) Erickson, Clearfield, Utah; Marcia (Mark) Wilson, Bloomington, Idaho; and a multitude of nieces & nephews.