Lifelong Resident Of County Dies

Heber John Phelps, 77, lifelong resident of Bear Lake county, died at 4 a.m. Sunday at his home in Ovid following an illness of several months. The son of Joseph Morris and Eliza Jersua Cliff Phelps, he was born September 6, 1884 at Montpelier.

Mr. Phelps attended elementary school in Montpelier, took his 9th grade at Alton, and continued his schooling at Fielding Academy, Paris. He had lived the past 31 years at Ovid where he engaged in farming and painting until retiring. During his youth he was a baggage man on the Union Pacific Railroad, and also worked two years for the telephone company.

He was identified with the Montpelier branch of the Studebaker Company for a number of years, first as a salesman of buggies, wagons and harnesses, collector and later was the manager. He was also manager of the Bancroft Studebaker branch for three years. He also worked at the Waterloo mine of San Francisco Chemical Company, farmed at Alton for six years, and as a salesman for J. C. Rich Motor Company for 10 years.

He was an elder in the LDS Church. An active sportsman, Mr. Phelps belonged to the Rainbow Rod and Gun Club.

Mr. Phelps and Mary Inez Jones were married August 9, 1909 at Paris, and the ceremony was later solemnized in the LDS Temple, Salt Lake City on August 31, 1927.

Besides his widow of Ovid, he is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Maurice L. (Virginia) Beck of Ovid, four grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Also surviving are four sisters and two brothers, Mrs. Karl (Pauline) Schenck of Los Angeles, California, Mrs. Mary A. (Birdie) Parker of Murray, Mrs. Edward (Lottie) Grosjean, Montpelier, Mrs. Parley (Areta) George, and William O. Phelps, all of Montpelier, and J. Smith Phelps of Ogden.

Services were held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, in the Ovid LDS Ward Chapel with Bishop Russell Sorenson conducting. The opening song, “Lead Kindly Light” was by the Singing Mothers, invocation, L. J. Shurtliff, obituary and remarks, Bishop Sorenson, vocal duet, “In The Garden” Mr. and Mrs. James Olsen, accompanied by Mrs. Lester Armatage, speaker, Brent Weston, vocal solo, “Hold Thou My Hand” Max Haddock, speaker, Bishop James Olsen, vocal solo, “Oh My Father”, Joe Weston, accompanied by Anita Weston, benediction, Hawley Phelps. The prayer at home was offered by Rodger Jensen, prelude and postlude were played by Nina Sorenson.

Interment was in the Montpelier cemetery and the grave was dedicated by Edward Grosjean. Pallbearers were Clyde Phelps, Ivan Phelps, Jerry Phelps, Wayne George, Don George and Philip Grosjean. Matthews Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.

Published in The News-Examiner in Montpelier, Bear Lake County, Idaho, on Thursday, February 1, 1962 on page 1