George Hipwell

George Ephraim Hipwell, 92, of Grand View, left this earthly existence Tuesday, June 24, 2014.

George passed away at his home surrounded by his family that he loved so much. He will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved him.

Services will be held in Grand View at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Monday, June 30, with a viewing from 10-10:45 a.m. and funeral services at 11 a.m. Burial with military honors will follow at the Riverside Cemetery in Grand View. Arrangements are under the care of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel in Mountain Home.

George was born on June 1, 1922, in Marriott, Utah, to William Barton Hipwell and Elsie Mary Hodson Hipwell.

Growing up, George farmed with his father and brothers, raising tomatoes, onions and beets in the Ogden, Utah, area. George loved to work.

He enjoyed playing basketball, baseball, football and ice skating in the winter in his earlier years.

His father taught him how to recite his ABC's backwards and he proudly recited them his entire life.

George graduated from Weber County High School in 1940.

He worked for the Civil Service until 1942 when he went to enlist at the age of 20 with a signature from his father. George served in Wyoming as a locator and in 1944 he was shipped overseas to New Guinea, where he served for a few months, and then transferred to Manila. George was honorably discharged on Jan. 20, 1946, but always was proud to be a World War II veteran.

In 1948, George and his brothers came to Grand View. He soon met Willa Catherine Burghardt and they married on Feb. 14, 1952.

George farmed over 2,000 acres with the Hipwell Brothers. They raised sugar beets, potatoes and hay. George also found joy in his small herd of cattle. He took great pride in them. Later in life he loved waking up every morning to feed them.

In 1964, Hipwell Brothers dissolved and George began farming on his own. George valued family and hard work and taught his four children this from an early age. They worked side by side growing up and George was fortunate enough to have his son, Randy, and grandson Kyle, farm with him.

George served on the Grand View Mutual Canal Company until 1968 when he resigned to serve on the Owyhee Sugar Beet Growers Association. He also played an instrumental part in starting Valley Health Care in Grand View.

George enjoyed life and loved living in the Grand View Valley. He was proud of this farming operation and was friends with everyone.

Most of all his prize possession was his family and that is what mattered the most to him.

George is survived by: his loving wife, Willa Catherine Burghardt Hipwell, of Grand View; his children, ReNae Catherine Bair of Nyssa, Ore., Randy George Hipwell (Nancy) of Grand View, Launa Willa Jayo (Randall) of Kimberly, Idaho, and Martin Araujo, adopted at age 13, of Grand View; his eight grandchildren, Jeffrey Ryan Bair (Marti) of Vale, Ore., Kyle George Hipwell (Aymee) of Grand View, Bryan Michael Bair of Nampa, Kayla Dawn Whitted (Oscar) of Grand View, Braden Scott Bair of Salt Lake City, Utah, Nicolas Drew Jayo of Kimberly, Idaho, Trenton Colby Bair of Nyssa, Ore., and Natalie Caitlin Jayo of Kimberly, Idaho; his seven great-grandchildren, Braxton, Brooke and Bryler Bair, Dallyn and Rawley Hipwell, and Owen and Randle Whitted, and his brother, Billy Jr. Hipwell, of Grand View.

George was preceded in death by his son, Scott William Hipwell, his son-in-law, Duwane Gene Bair, his grandson, Kieran Gene Bair, and his siblings, Fern Hogge, Clyde Hipwell, Glen Hipwell and Darlene Hipwell.