Rulon M. Whitesides

Apr. 2, 1925 - Oct. 24, 2020

Date of Service: Nov. 9, 2020

April 2, 1925 – October 24, 2020

Rulon M. Whitesides was born in Layton, Utah, to Wilford Adams Whitesides and Mareta Harriet Morgan. Rulon was the middle of three children, book-ended by older sister, June and younger sister, Lucy.

Rulon’s Aunt Alice wrote about her nephew; “From day one this boy never let grass grow under his feet. He was a full-fledged boy. Horses, chickens, cows, snakes, everything he loved - except little girls. Once when I needed to wash my hands, I found the bathroom sink filled with dirty water and Rulon’s 102 polliwogs.”

Rulon learned the meaning of hard work while helping his dad and uncles on the family farm. He spent his summers driving horse-drawn rakes and hayracks during harvest. He drew strength and compassion from his mother whom he loved dearly. Rulon loved horses and taught his horses the Indian Shuffle, a gait so smooth he was often seen standing upright on his barebacked mount as they traversed the neighborhood.

One of Rulon’s earliest childhood memories was sitting on a rope swing in his back yard eating a thick piece of his mother’s homemade bread smothered in his Grandpa Whitesides’ molasses. He had a special affinity towards his grandpa and held many fond memories of their time together.

Rulon loved a good tease, so much so that, as his Aunt Alice put it, “If Mareta and Wilford ever left their kids home alone, Rulon’s sisters locked their selves in the bathroom to keep from being damaged.” None of us were spared his good-natured antics nor would we have wanted it any other way. Rulon was quick to find the lighter side of most any situation and shared countless stories of his youth that we never tired of hearing. His memory and sense of humor were impeccable right to the end.

After graduating from Davis High School in the height of World War II, Rulon remained on the farm until September, 1944, when he was drafted into military service. He completed basic training at Camp Roberts, California, and from there shipped out to Oahu, Hawaii, then on to Saipan in the Mariana Islands enroute to his ultimate destination, Okinawa, Japan.

While on Saipan, he was given the option of transferring out of the infantry and into the medical corp. Rulon volunteered and was reassigned as a Medical Aidman to the 96th Infantry Division of the 383rd Regiment, United States Army. His medical training was limited to applying basic wound dressings and administering morphine.

Rulon was deployed to the front lines on Okinawa and was responsible for attending to other soldiers wounded in battle. He applied bandages, administered morphine, then called for litters to relay the wounded back to aid stations. When litters were not available, Rulon did what was necessary to assist the wounded out of harm’s way.

His Aunt Alice wrote, “I prayed! Prayed he himself would be injured (not bad) but just enough to get him safe in the hospital before he was killed.” On 25 May, 1945, Rulon was “lucky” enough to be shot in the wrist. Aunt Alice’s prayers were answered, and the injury was “just enough to get him safe.” Rulon was on the front line for less than 30 days and at the time of his injury was the only remaining soldier of his original company. The rest had either been killed or wounded.

Rulon was transported back to Hawaii where, after leaving the hospital, was assigned as a dental assistant to a dispensary attached to the 810 Military Police. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant and placed in charge of the dispensary. During this phase of his military career, Rulon not only learned how to assist the dentist, Captain John Rhoades, but the captain also taught him how to enlarge photos using two Army C-ration cans and an old Browning camera lens. A favorite photo enlargement that Rulon brought back from Hawaii is of him sitting atop a Harley Davidson WLA 45 MP motorcycle. Classic!

After receiving his honorable discharge at Camp Beale, California, in August, 1946, anxious to get home, Rulon decided to forego the free bus ride and hitchhiked his way back to Layton that same day. Utilizing the G.I. bill, which covered books and tuition plus sixty-five dollars a month to live on, Rulon enrolled at Utah State University in Logan, Utah.
Rulon’s baby sister, Lucy, was attending Utah State at that same time. She had a sorority sister from Ogden, Utah, whom she thought her big brother should get to know. The initial meeting left Rulon in the clouds and he thought this young lady was the prettiest girl in the Sorority. As the months passed, their friendship grew and just outside a year later, on 23 December 1950, Rulon married the love of his life, Mildred Jane “Millie” Lewis. In April 1970, their marriage was solemnized in the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple. Millie passed away in August 2018, just shy of their 68th wedding anniversary, leaving Rulon heartbroken but with a little work on this earth left to finish.

After completing their degrees at Utah State in 1951, the newlyweds headed to Sacramento, California, where Millie worked at a local hospital and Rulon sold insurance. California treated them well, but the young couple decided to get back to their roots in the Salt Lake Valley where, in November 1953, their first child, Wendy, was born.

They bought a house in Bountiful and Rulon took a job at Hill AFB while Millie worked as a dietitian to help make ends meet. In November 1956, they were blessed with their second child, Janice. That same year opportunity knocked and through his veterans benefits Rulon drew a homestead in the Emerson, Idaho, area. In the spring of 1957, his next adventure would begin.

That first spring Millie and the girls stayed in Utah while Rulon and his faithful canine companion, Sassy, went to work clearing sagebrush and leveling the landscape. He recalled one day when Sassy was covered with so much dust she could barely see so they rode into town, got a motel room and took a well-deserved soak in the tub.

Life could seem pretty miserable perched on the metal seat of his John Deere Model-B tractor with nothing but a thin canvas tractor skirt to protect him from the elements, but the work had to get done. He questioned his decision of leaving the city for a land covered in sagebrush and smitten with Jack rabbits. Somehow, like everything else life had thrown his way, Rulon made it through and was better for it. Later that year, Millie and his two girls joined him on the farm and together they began their new life in the Idaho dust bowl.

In January, 1959, their third child, Lewis, was born in Burley. Rulon built a new home next to where his homestead house stood and, with each passing year, life on the farm began to get a little more tolerable. Over the years, Rulon honed his talent for raising contract seed beans, barley, and alfalfa. He also enjoyed feeding and trading Holstein heifers. This combination served him well throughout the years and with his keen sense of business Rulon and his family continued to prosper on the plains of Southern Idaho.

Rulon enjoyed hunting, fishing, and just about anything that got him up in the mountain air. It was not unusual to load up the horses at 4 in the morning and drive over Galena to the Sawtooth wilderness for a day’s ride and a little fishing. Back to the farm that night and up the next day bright and early to get back to business.

He loved to ski, well into his 80s in fact, and passed along his passion for the sport to his children. This winter reprieve refreshed his batteries and helped sustain us all through the arduous summer months – looking forward to another season of hitting the slopes with family and friends.

Rulon worked tirelessly to support his family and was quick to lend a hand to a neighbor in need. His neighbors, in turn, were happy to repay the favor. Rulon’s generous and fair approach to his family and business relationships was a testament to his generation and the times they grew up in. They were truly a nation working together to rebuild after the second World War and make things better for their children. Rulon’s modesty and work ethic were the foundation of his being and a trait he has passed along to his children and their families.

The last few years of Millie’s life presented a new challenge to Rulon. Her failing memory rendered her incapable of caring for him the way she had for the past 65 years. Now it was Rulon’s turn to look after Millie. Witnessing the transition from typical hunter/gatherer to care giver was a gift to behold for all of us. It was a side of our dad we had not seen much before. His tender mercies and dedication to our mom helped reinforce in all of us the true meaning of love and devotion. Rulon longed for a day when he could reunite with his college sweetheart and hold her close once more. We pray that he got his last wish and is again with Millie and all his loved ones that passed before him.

Rulon is survived by his daughters, Wendy (Dee L.) Seamons and Janice (Jarl) Allen; son, Lewis (Lorraine) Whitesides; and his sister, June Baxter. He leaves behind ten grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. All who will miss his crooked smile and tender laugh.

Our family wishes to thank Kathyrn Hines of Harrison’s Hope Hospice for her tender care during Rulon’s final days. We especially appreciate Valerie Vail’s continued presence to help Rulon out since Millie’s passing. For the support of Karen Hylton over the years and the nurses and physical therapy staff of Horizon Home Health, Thank You. We also want to acknowledge the tender care Jeff Rasmussen has demonstrated during this time. And finally, to thank Rulon’s many neighbors and friends who have looked in on him from time to time over the years.

Due to the current pandemic situation, a private family viewing will be held on Monday morning, November 9, followed at 12:30 p.m. by a public graveside service at the Paul Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please reach out to one of the many local organizations caring for our elderly, sick, and those needing a little extra help during these trying times.

For those unable to attend the service, a live webcast of the 11 a.m. Funeral Service will be available at the following link: https://youtu.be/vXJ5EjsxLac. After the Funeral Service, there will be a live webcast of the Graveside Service at the following link: https://youtu.be/IK0lRJOatGo.