Joseph Henry Bitsoi, 79, of Ririe, passed away Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, at his home.
Joe was born January 18, 1937 on the Navajo Reservation in Chinle, Arizona. His parents, Nasgallind Nelson Bitsoi and Louise Gorman Althsodee Bitsoi welcomed him into their small one room log home. He was the middle of seven children. His parents also raised 4 of his cousins and they were loved and included into the family. As a child, Joe attended boarding school at Ganado, Arizona for two years and worked on the family sheep ranch. He spent a lot of time exploring Canyon de Chelly which was very near their home. He often told his family about picking and eating the delicious peaches and apples that grew in the canyon. At 16 years of age he left home and the reservation and began working on the Santa-Fe Railroad. Joe then moved to Idaho and began working for a farmer at the age of 18 in the small town of Ririe where he met his future wife, Shyrl Freeman. They were married April 29, 1960, and were later sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple on March 5, 1964. They made Ririe their home. Joe and Shyrl were blessed with six children: Stan (Jill), Rodney (Susan), Arlene (Curtis), Val (Linda), Ann, Karen (Wade). They have 20 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren, all of whom he was very proud.
Joe joined the LDS church on January 28, 1960 and remained an active member. He served in multiple callings and had a strong testimony.
Shortly after his marriage Joe went to work at Holder Machine Works, in Rigby, where he learned to weld. This skill coupled with his artistic ability was noticed by Smith-Miller Torch Company and they soon had him traveling throughout the US and Canada performing demos at fabrication expos. During this time Joe went into business for himself, starting out in his garage then purchasing the blacksmith shop in Ririe where he designed, fabricated and repaired items of metal.Joe’s shop became a gathering place of sorts for farmers and community members to stop in for a visit. Joe enjoyed exchanging jokes and valued his lifelong friendships that he made with the local people that had adopted him as one of their own. As a strong supporter of the community you would often see his face at the local sporting events and activities. He was a pillar of the community and will be missed by many.
Joe was proceeded in death by his parents, his brothers Deswood Bitsoi, Benjamin Tracey, Larry Tracey. His sisters Rose Bitsoi and Sarah Bitsoi Davis. His daughter Ann also proceeded him in death along with his great grandson Kingsten Vallin Bitsoi. He is survived by his loving wife Shyrl, 5 children, 20 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers Benny Bitsoi and Arthur Tracey and his sisters Lydia Bitsoi, Christine Bitsoi and Eloise Tracey Guerro.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. the Ririe Stake Center. The family will receive friends from 6pm to 8pm Tuesday and from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. prior to services, both at the church. Burial will be in the Ririe Shelton Cemetery. Services are under the care of Eckersell Memorial Chapel in Rigby.
Joe was born January 18, 1937 on the Navajo Reservation in Chinle, Arizona. His parents, Nasgallind Nelson Bitsoi and Louise Gorman Althsodee Bitsoi welcomed him into their small one room log home. He was the middle of seven children. His parents also raised 4 of his cousins and they were loved and included into the family. As a child, Joe attended boarding school at Ganado, Arizona for two years and worked on the family sheep ranch. He spent a lot of time exploring Canyon de Chelly which was very near their home. He often told his family about picking and eating the delicious peaches and apples that grew in the canyon. At 16 years of age he left home and the reservation and began working on the Santa-Fe Railroad. Joe then moved to Idaho and began working for a farmer at the age of 18 in the small town of Ririe where he met his future wife, Shyrl Freeman. They were married April 29, 1960, and were later sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple on March 5, 1964. They made Ririe their home. Joe and Shyrl were blessed with six children: Stan (Jill), Rodney (Susan), Arlene (Curtis), Val (Linda), Ann, Karen (Wade). They have 20 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren, all of whom he was very proud.
Joe joined the LDS church on January 28, 1960 and remained an active member. He served in multiple callings and had a strong testimony.
Shortly after his marriage Joe went to work at Holder Machine Works, in Rigby, where he learned to weld. This skill coupled with his artistic ability was noticed by Smith-Miller Torch Company and they soon had him traveling throughout the US and Canada performing demos at fabrication expos. During this time Joe went into business for himself, starting out in his garage then purchasing the blacksmith shop in Ririe where he designed, fabricated and repaired items of metal.Joe’s shop became a gathering place of sorts for farmers and community members to stop in for a visit. Joe enjoyed exchanging jokes and valued his lifelong friendships that he made with the local people that had adopted him as one of their own. As a strong supporter of the community you would often see his face at the local sporting events and activities. He was a pillar of the community and will be missed by many.
Joe was proceeded in death by his parents, his brothers Deswood Bitsoi, Benjamin Tracey, Larry Tracey. His sisters Rose Bitsoi and Sarah Bitsoi Davis. His daughter Ann also proceeded him in death along with his great grandson Kingsten Vallin Bitsoi. He is survived by his loving wife Shyrl, 5 children, 20 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers Benny Bitsoi and Arthur Tracey and his sisters Lydia Bitsoi, Christine Bitsoi and Eloise Tracey Guerro.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. the Ririe Stake Center. The family will receive friends from 6pm to 8pm Tuesday and from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. prior to services, both at the church. Burial will be in the Ririe Shelton Cemetery. Services are under the care of Eckersell Memorial Chapel in Rigby.
Joseph Henry Bitsoi, 79, of Ririe, passed away Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, at his home.
Joe was born January 18, 1937 on the Navajo Reservation in Chinle, Arizona. His parents, Nasgallind Nelson Bitsoi and Louise Gorman Althsodee Bitsoi welcomed him into their small one room log home. He was the middle of seven children. His parents also raised 4 of his cousins and they were loved and included into the family. As a child, Joe attended boarding school at Ganado, Arizona for two years and worked on the family sheep ranch. He spent a lot of time exploring Canyon de Chelly which was very near their home. He often told his family about picking and eating the delicious peaches and apples that grew in the canyon. At 16 years of age he left home and the reservation and began working on the Santa-Fe Railroad. Joe then moved to Idaho and began working for a farmer at the age of 18 in the small town of Ririe where he met his future wife, Shyrl Freeman. They were married April 29, 1960, and were later sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple on March 5, 1964. They made Ririe their home. Joe and Shyrl were blessed with six children: Stan (Jill), Rodney (Susan), Arlene (Curtis), Val (Linda), Ann, Karen (Wade). They have 20 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren, all of whom he was very proud.
Joe joined the LDS church on January 28, 1960 and remained an active member. He served in multiple callings and had a strong testimony.
Shortly after his marriage Joe went to work at Holder Machine Works, in Rigby, where he learned to weld. This skill coupled with his artistic ability was noticed by Smith-Miller Torch Company and they soon had him traveling throughout the US and Canada performing demos at fabrication expos. During this time Joe went into business for himself, starting out in his garage then purchasing the blacksmith shop in Ririe where he designed, fabricated and repaired items of metal.Joe’s shop became a gathering place of sorts for farmers and community members to stop in for a visit. Joe enjoyed exchanging jokes and valued his lifelong friendships that he made with the local people that had adopted him as one of their own. As a strong supporter of the community you would often see his face at the local sporting events and activities. He was a pillar of the community and will be missed by many.
Joe was proceeded in death by his parents, his brothers Deswood Bitsoi, Benjamin Tracey, Larry Tracey. His sisters Rose Bitsoi and Sarah Bitsoi Davis. His daughter Ann also proceeded him in death along with his great grandson Kingsten Vallin Bitsoi. He is survived by his loving wife Shyrl, 5 children, 20 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers Benny Bitsoi and Arthur Tracey and his sisters Lydia Bitsoi, Christine Bitsoi and Eloise Tracey Guerro.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. the Ririe Stake Center. The family will receive friends from 6pm to 8pm Tuesday and from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. prior to services, both at the church. Burial will be in the Ririe Shelton Cemetery. Services are under the care of Eckersell Memorial Chapel in Rigby.
Joe was born January 18, 1937 on the Navajo Reservation in Chinle, Arizona. His parents, Nasgallind Nelson Bitsoi and Louise Gorman Althsodee Bitsoi welcomed him into their small one room log home. He was the middle of seven children. His parents also raised 4 of his cousins and they were loved and included into the family. As a child, Joe attended boarding school at Ganado, Arizona for two years and worked on the family sheep ranch. He spent a lot of time exploring Canyon de Chelly which was very near their home. He often told his family about picking and eating the delicious peaches and apples that grew in the canyon. At 16 years of age he left home and the reservation and began working on the Santa-Fe Railroad. Joe then moved to Idaho and began working for a farmer at the age of 18 in the small town of Ririe where he met his future wife, Shyrl Freeman. They were married April 29, 1960, and were later sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple on March 5, 1964. They made Ririe their home. Joe and Shyrl were blessed with six children: Stan (Jill), Rodney (Susan), Arlene (Curtis), Val (Linda), Ann, Karen (Wade). They have 20 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren, all of whom he was very proud.
Joe joined the LDS church on January 28, 1960 and remained an active member. He served in multiple callings and had a strong testimony.
Shortly after his marriage Joe went to work at Holder Machine Works, in Rigby, where he learned to weld. This skill coupled with his artistic ability was noticed by Smith-Miller Torch Company and they soon had him traveling throughout the US and Canada performing demos at fabrication expos. During this time Joe went into business for himself, starting out in his garage then purchasing the blacksmith shop in Ririe where he designed, fabricated and repaired items of metal.Joe’s shop became a gathering place of sorts for farmers and community members to stop in for a visit. Joe enjoyed exchanging jokes and valued his lifelong friendships that he made with the local people that had adopted him as one of their own. As a strong supporter of the community you would often see his face at the local sporting events and activities. He was a pillar of the community and will be missed by many.
Joe was proceeded in death by his parents, his brothers Deswood Bitsoi, Benjamin Tracey, Larry Tracey. His sisters Rose Bitsoi and Sarah Bitsoi Davis. His daughter Ann also proceeded him in death along with his great grandson Kingsten Vallin Bitsoi. He is survived by his loving wife Shyrl, 5 children, 20 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers Benny Bitsoi and Arthur Tracey and his sisters Lydia Bitsoi, Christine Bitsoi and Eloise Tracey Guerro.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. the Ririe Stake Center. The family will receive friends from 6pm to 8pm Tuesday and from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. prior to services, both at the church. Burial will be in the Ririe Shelton Cemetery. Services are under the care of Eckersell Memorial Chapel in Rigby.
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