Elmo Donald Crooks

Elmo Donald Crooks, 93, of Blackfoot, passed away May 25, 2018 at The Gables of Blackfoot.

Elmo was born October 11, 1924 in Shelley Idaho to Donald James Crooks and Edith Green Oler. He was the first child of 10. He grew up in Shelley Idaho. He grew up farming and ranching in the area. He loved the outdoors and loved hard work. He always seemed to be puttering around working on something. He went into the Navy before graduating high school and served in Alaska on a ship that swept the seas around the Aleutian Islands for mines.

He married Wanda N. Anthony from Wapello Idaho. On October 30, 1946 they were sealed in the Idaho Falls temple. They had six children, Bard Elmo (Darlene), Laurel Hill (Terrell), Debra Hawkes (Daniel), Toni Peterson, Joseph Scott (Georganne) and David Dean (Deborah).

Elmo was called on a mission to the Great Lakes Mission in 1951 and returned in 1953 when Bard was 18 months old. After his return, they lived in Moreland Idaho for a while and then followed his parents to Baker Idaho. There he farmed and his dad was a ranch hand. After several years they moved to Firth Idaho and he went to work for the National Laboratory where he retired. Wanda died of Cancer on October 10, 1974. Shortly after on February 12, 1975 he married Elda Faith Rhodes. Elda had a daughter Joy, and Elmo was glad to take Joy and her six children and love them as his own. Elda passed away April 10, 2008 after being married 33 years. Elmo served in many positions in the LDS church.

Elmo was preceded in death by his 9 siblings, both wives, his parents, three sons and two grandchildren.

Graveside services will be 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at the Shelley Hillcrest Cemetery. The family will meet with friends Tuesday evening from 6:00 till 7:30 PM and Wednesday morning from 9:30 till 10:30 AM at Nalder Funeral Home (110 West Oak) in Shelley. Interment will be in the Shelley Hillcrest Cemetery with Military Rites by the David B. Bleak Post #93 of Shelley.