John Wilmer Rigby was born on November 7, 1931, to John Rollin Rigby and Geneva Keller Rigby in Montpelier, Idaho. He went by the name Wilmer. He was the oldest of six boys and grew up on a farm south of Montpelier in an area called Wardboro. He attended grade school at the Wardboro school where his uncle, Truman Rigby, was often his schoolteacher. His mother and father ran a dairy farm during the depression. This provided Wilmer and his brother Clyde with plenty of opportunity for hard work. They were responsible for the many chores of the farm, including milking several cows in the morning and the evening. He said he knew they were poor, but it didn’t seem to matter too much because everyone else was just as poor. Eventually his father sold the dairy operation and got a job working for the Union Pacific Railroad. Shortly before Wilmer started attending Montpelier High School, the family moved into a house in town. He said moving into town was a whole new world complete with an indoor toilet, a real treat during the cold Bear Lake winters.
Wilmer was a good student and earned the respect of his high school teachers and the principal. At the recommendation of his principal, he was offered a part-time job working at the local laundry where he did pick-up and delivery to businesses and performed general labor at the laundry. During his last year of high school, while attending a school dance, a blond-haired girl from Paris, ID named Ruth Price caught his attention. On August 1, 1952, they were married in the Logan Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was studying Pharmacy at Idaho State University when they got married. On January 19, 1954, their daughter, Nancy Lyn, was born. Their son John Dale Rigby was born on September 4, 1956, in Price, Utah.
Wilmer and Ruth moved to Salmon, Idaho in September 1962 where he was a partner in running a pharmacy. Eventually he became the sole owner of the store that was long known as Rigby’s Pharmacy. They stayed in Salmon until Wilmer retired in 1997.
Wilmer and Ruth loved the Salmon area. They enjoyed fishing, hunting, and the outdoors. Wilmer was part owner of an airplane that he enjoyed flying. He taught himself to play the piano without reading music. He was an avid reader of history books about explorers and Native Americans. He was also an expert on the expedition of Lewis and Clark and the routes they took through the Lemhi and Salmon River areas. He had a large personal Lewis and Clark library and hiked almost every foot of the trails they followed. He was a sought-after lecturer and was featured on a PBS television program about Lewis and Clark.
Wilmer and Ruth were faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They were very active in their church callings. During the 35 years they lived in Salmon, Wilmer served as a Bishop, Counselor in the Stake Presidency, High Councilor, Sunday School Teacher, Clerk, and Ward Missionary.
After Wilmer retired, they moved to Logan, Utah. They loved Logan and served as ordinance workers in the Logan Temple for many years. In 2000 and 2001 they served a mission in Michigan where they developed lasting friendships and had many wonderful experiences. Friends from Michigan came to visit them in Logan for many years after their mission. Their mission was a highlight of their retirement years.
Ruth was the love of Wilmer’s life. She passed away in 2018, after almost 66 years together. In 2021 Wilmer moved to Kaysville, Utah and lived in an assisted living center until he passed on November 7, 2022, his 91st birthday. He attended Sacrament meeting every Sunday, including the day before he passed.
Wilmer is survived by both of his children, Nancy Lyn Barnes, and John Dale Rigby (Marilyn), and his 5 brothers, Clyde, Sherman, Larry, Dennis, and Roger. He has 8 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 12, 2022, at the Russon Mortuary 1941 N Main Street, Farmington, UT. A viewing will be held from 9:00-9:45 AM with the funeral service to follow at 10:00 AM. Interment will be in the Montpelier, ID Cemetery.
Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary & Crematory Facebook page and on this obituary page. The live stream will begin about 10-15 minutes prior to the service and will be posted below.