Cleve Swinyard

1930 - 2018

Cleve Theron Swinyard, 87, of Idaho Falls, died Feb. 9, 2018, peacefully at his home.

He was born June 3, 1930, in Lewiston, Utah, to Theron Smith Swinyard and Genevieve Talbot. He graduated from Idaho Falls High School and spent four years in the United States Air Force. Of those four years, he served 27 months in Okinawa and Guam. He was a communications specialist on a B-29.

On Nov. 21, 1952, he married Lola DeLaine Call from Rigby, Idaho. The marriage was solemnized in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on Jan. 22, 1966. Lola preceded him in death July 22, 2005. Cleve worked for Western Airlines for five years and then enjoyed being a salesman for several years and won many awards and trips. He enjoyed traveling and meeting people. Cleve always had a great story to tell and a sense of humor that will long be remembered.

As a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served in various callings, including counselor in the bishopric, ward employment specialist and a Scoutmaster for several years. He loved doing family history and served with Lola as a missionary for seven and a half years at the Family History Center.

Cleve's hobbies included feeding birds, lapidary, making jewelry from his polish rocks and sharing them with others, reading and family history. Every year, he bought hundreds of pens to hand out to anyone he would meet with the engraving "Thank You for Your Dedication. Enjoy." Cleve loved being around people and always put the needs of others before his own.

He is survived by his children, Mike (Nancy) Swinyard, of Sandy, Utah, Trish Swinyard, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, and Karen (Cliff) Howell, of Blackfoot, Idaho, 11 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his sweetheart and eternal companion, Lola; his parents; a daughter, Terri Lyn Swinyard; and a granddaughter, Kelli Rae Parkinson

The family thanks Encompass Home Health and Hospice for their kind and considerate care of their father.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, at Idaho Falls 28th Ward, 2025 Jennie Lee Drive, with Bishop Matt Hansen officiating. The family will visit with friends Friday from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Wood Funeral Home, 273 N. Ridge Ave., and one hour prior to services at the church. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery. The family suggests memorial donations be made to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Humanitarian Fund. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.woodfuneralhome.com.