Ken Dixon

Ken Dixon passed away on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Twin Falls, Idaho. Ken was born March 22, 1924 at Manard, Camas County, Idaho. He was the tenth of ten children born to James Henry Dixon and Sarah Elizabeth Hurd Dixon. He graduated from Gooding High School in 1942.

Ken was inducted into the Army February 20, 1945.  Most of his two years of service was spent as clerk-typist in the Military Police unit in Manila, Philippines. Ken served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Northern California Mission from 1947 to 1949.  He always thought of this experience as the beginning of real life.

After returning from his mission Ken went to Ricks College and then to Utah State Agricultural College.  He graduated with a BS Degree in 1953.  In 1961-62 he did a full year of graduate work at the University of Utah, studying science education.

During his freshman year at Ricks, Ken met Dixie Gardner.  They were married in the Idaho Falls Temple, September 12, 1950.  To them seven children were born.  Ken was always grateful for the knowledge that they would be a family for eternity.  He never knew how to say how much he was thankful for them or how much he loved them.

After college Ken returned to Gooding to farm.  For the next thirty years he farmed at Gooding, Richfield, and Hunt.  He has often said that he spent much of his life producing tons of food and fiber for a cold and hungry world. He taught school for several years, in Bliss, Gooding, Richfield and Shoshone.

In 1987 he and Dixie were called to serve in the Manila Philippines Mission.  He saw much of the same country where he had served in the Army. In 1994 Ken and Dixie were called to serve in the Athens Greece Mission. He served as the Branch President of the Nicosia, Cyprus Branch.  He was thrilled to be in the same mission field where Paul had served. During this mission they got to spend four days in Israel, fulfilling a lifelong dream.  Here they were able to follow in many of the footsteps of Jesus, including the Garden Tomb where Jesus was resurrected. Ken has been grateful for the years of service in the church, including many leadership, teaching and service positions in the organizations of the church.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, DeAnn Romer; two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Dixie Gardner Dixon;  brother, Dick Dixon, St. George, Utah;  daughters, Dusty Phillips, South Jordan, Utah; Janeen Redd, La Habra California; and Jill Wareham, Black Diamond, Washington; sons, Mark, Mesa Arizona; Chad, Ririe Idaho; and Bret, Junction City, Oregon; 31 grandchildren and 54 great-grandchildren.

A viewing will be held from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm, Friday, March 16, 2018 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jerome 1st Ward, 825 E Ave B, Jerome, Idaho. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, March 17, 2018 at Jerome 1st Ward, with a viewing beginning at 10:00 am. Grave dedication will conclude at Jerome Cemetery.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family on Ken's memorial webpage at www.farnsworthmortuary.com.