Bud Hinckley

Bud Hinckley
POCATELLO - Bud Henry Hinckley, 93, of Pocatello, Idaho, peacefully passed away on Wednesday, April 11th, after a brief illness. He was born in 1918 in Sugar City, Idaho, to Henry E. and Roszina Hinckley. Due of his mother's ill health, she was encouraged to have an abortion, but because of his parents' faith, Bud was born and has touched the lives of thousands. 
He grew up in the Upper Snake River Valley, moving throughout the area with his family. In school, he enjoyed the performing arts. He attended and taught at the Stevens Henager business school in Utah.
When news arrived of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Bud enlisted in the Army Air Corp, where he served as a 2nd Lieutenant and a co-pilot on a B-17 bomber stationed in England. He was shot down on his 14th bombing raid after he had prayed that he would not have to bomb innocent civilians. He spent over 18 months as a prisoner of war in the Stalag Luft 3 where the Great Escape occurred. He endured many deprivations, including a winter death march as the Germans retreated from advancing Russian Army. The life of a POW friend was saved when he bartered to have a sled made for their packs during the death march. 
Bud's love of his fellowmen and God motivated him to accept many Church callings. He served for 3 years in the Western Canadian Mission where he opened the first mission to the Indians in Canada and baptized the first Cree member of the Church. He served as the counselor in the mission presidency. It was there that he met and after his mission married Ruth in 1948. While the wards were building a meetinghouse in Idaho Falls, Bud quit his job as assistant county auditor to supervise the completion of the building. He accepted calls to serve as a Bishop, as a counselor in the Stake Presidency and many other positions in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He established the Church's employment center for the area. He was a temple sealer at the Idaho Falls Temple. Bud and Ruth served a mission in Perth, Australia. The month before he passed away he visited 10 families demonstrating his lifelong love and commitment to home teaching.
He was the owner of Hinckley Insurance Agency which he started in Idaho Falls and later moved to Pocatello in 1953. Bud was particularly thrilled when the insurance he had sold helped a family after a death or after a significant loss such as a hailstorm that damaged many crops, homes and vehicles.
He was awarded the Silver Beaver by the Boy Scouts. He was on the board of directors of the Bannock Leaders Credit Union and enjoyed Toastmasters. He loved his country and enjoyed working and serving with former veterans and POWs who live in the area. He worked tirelessly to help these great veterans receive benefits similar and equal to those in surrounding states. These benefits were a financial salvation for those who had served their country so faithfully.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Lois, Violet, Lamon, Elizabeth, brothers Thomas, Reed, and Guy and his wife, Ruth. He is survived by his four children, Ellen England (Steven), Martin (Karen) Hinckley, Paula Wadsworth (Tony), and Bryce (Patti) Hinckley. Additional survivors include 27 grandchildren with 14 spouses and 47 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at noon on Monday, April 16, 2012, at the LDS Chapel located at 1440 Lakeview Drive in Pocatello. A visitation will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, April 15, 2012, at Colonial Funeral Home, 2005 S. Fourth Ave. in Pocatello, and also one hour prior to the funeral services at the church. Burial will follow services at Restlawn Memorial Gardens where military honors will be provided by the Pocatello Veterans Honor Guard.
Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.Colonial-FuneralHome.com.