Llewellyn "Jack" Port

On July 17, 2014, Llewellyn 'Jack' Port returned to his Heavenly home. Jack was born September 19, 1926, in Oakley, Idaho to James Garnett and Juanita Rose Port. He was the 8th of 14 children, including Hellen, Louise, Russell, Rosella, Dorothy, Elma, James, Bill, Dennis, Elizabeth, Garneta, Jerry and Oscar. When people wanted directions to the Port house, they were often told to just go down the street till they found a little house where it looked like Sunday School had just let out, and that would be the Ports. Jack had a deep and abiding love of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jack attended Oakley Grammar school and Oakley High school where he was a member of the Oakley football team. He and his brothers were involved in many hijinks that took place while they were growing up in Oakley. He fell in love with Bula Wilson when he was 14 and she was 12. It was his job to pump the organ as she played it in church and often got himself in trouble for pumping too slowly causing the music to go out of tune. After high school graduation, Jack joined the army, where he served as a paratrooper. After an honorable discharge he returned to Oakley where he married his childhood sweetheart. They ran a small farm in Oakley and had 4 children, Danny, Cindy, Pam and Kelly. From his experiences in farming, he taught us that some things should be cursed at ... others, not. In 1958, Jack and Bula drew a homestead on the Rupert North Side where they lived and farmed for 5 years. In February 1965, Jack lost his first love, Bula, as she succumbed to her battle with cancer.

After several devastating circumstances on the farm, Jack turned his attention to selling insurance for Farm Bureau. In 1966 Jack married Ann Michelson Madsen and adopted her three young children, Richard, DeAnna and Steven. They added two more babies, Wesley and Heidi, to make a family of yours, mine and ours. They moved from the North side to south of Rupert, on a bend in the Snake River, where Jack ran a small farm and worked at Rupert Iron works for several years. He then went to work at Simplot's where he eventually retired. Jack was active in the Acequia/Rupert scouting program.

In 1988 Jack met Rhoda Beth Zufelt Snyder. Their courtship got off to a bit of a rocky start, as Jack asked Rhoda on a date, but the day of the date, he was working on the roof of a house. The ladder he was standing on fell over and he landed on his back and ended up in the hospital with three broken ribs. He was unable to telephone her and she thought he had stood her up. Fortunately, she believed his story and she thankfully gave him a second chance. They were married on Sweetheart's Day, February 14, 1989. This added David Snyder, Donna Fullmer and Linda Anderson to Jack's ever growing family. Jack and Rhoda served an LDS mission with the Navajo and Hopi people in Tuba City, Arizona and a second mission the Shoshone-Bannock people at Fort Hall Reservation. They also did over 125 temple endowments in 1996 at the Idaho Falls Temple. They spent many winters traveling in their fifth wheel, visiting family in Arizona, California, Washington and Michigan. They spent 25 wonderful, happy years together. Between Jack and Rhoda, they have 12 children, 46 grandchildren and dozens of great grandchildren.

Jack is survived by his dear wife, Rhoda, children Danny (Joan) Port, Cindy (Randy) Cahoon, Pamela Wharton, Kelly (Kathleen) Port, Richard (Anita) Port, DeAnna Martin, Wesley Port, Heidi (Scott) Rogers, Donna (Jim) Fullmer, Linda (Steven) Anderson and David (Karen) Snyder. Also, sisters Dorothy Robinson, Louise Woodhouse, Elma Washburn, Elizabeth Payton and Garneta Gee. Jack was dearly loved by all who knew him He leaves behind a great heritage. He will long be remembered for his big heart, wonderful sense of humor, woodworking and great skill as a story teller. All his children and grandchildren loved to sit and listen to him tell stories of his childhood and life as a cowboy. He will be greatly missed by all of us.

We love you, Daddy. See you soon.

Viewing will be Wednesday, July 23, 2014 the Manning-Wheatley Funeral Chapel, 510 N. 12th Ave. Pocatello, Idaho from 6-8 pm. Funeral services will be at 11:00 am Thursday, July 24, 2014 at the Highland 2nd Ward Chapel, 2925 Michelle Street, Pocatello Idaho with a viewing from 10-10:40 am at the church. Graveside service at Oakley Cemetery 3:30 pm.