Joseph “Ray” Bienz, 90, passed away peacefully at the Bear Lake Skilled Nursing Home in Montpelier, Idaho on April 15, 2024.
Ray was born on December 23,1933 in Bern Idaho, to Rudolph Benjamin Bienz and Marintha Derricott Bienz. He was the third of four boys born to them. He attended the little schoolhouse in Bern for grade school and graduated high school in Montpelier, Idaho.
He was an active and faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served a mission in Holland from 1954-1956. He went on to serve in many different positions and callings in the church throughout his life. He touched many hearts and helped many people during his mission and while serving in the church.
Ray met his sweetheart, Lois Ann Tueller in 1957, while working at the First Security Bank in Montpelier, Idaho, where Lois was working as well. After a short engagement, they were married in the Logan Idaho Temple on July 2, 1957. Ray and Lois would go on to have four children, Rae Ann, David, Jim, and Nancy.
Ray had many different jobs throughout his life. He was a hard worker and made many friends through his work. He worked at Central Farmers in Georgetown, Idaho shortly after getting married, then in 1960, the family moved to Idaho Falls and he worked for the Atomic Energy Commission during the day and installed water heaters at night.
In 1965, Ray decided to go back to school and with the help of his dear wife who worked to help put him through, and having three small children at the time, he attended classes at Utah State University during the day and worked at the college in maintenance during the night, earning his Bachelor of Science degree in June of 1967. He also earned a certificate of graduation in the Institute of Religions from the Church Board of Education from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in May of 1966.
After graduating, he went on to work as the Financial Aids Director for Snow College in Ephraim, Utah and then later for Aims College in Greeley, Colorado. The family then moved to Flagstaff, Arizona, where Ray worked as the regional manager of the Maverick Country stores for four years.
In 1977, Ray’s father Rudolph was getting older and asked him to take over the family farm in Bern, Idaho, so the family made their next to last move back to Montpelier, then to Bern, where he ran the farm and started his plumbing business, which he continued to run into his 80’s, with the help of his grandson, Brendan. Through his business, he made many friends and was well known and appreciated throughout the Bear Lake Valley and into Wyoming and Utah for his hard work and skill in plumbing and construction.
Ray enjoyed camping, hiking and fishing with his family and always loved a good book. Later in life, Ray and Lois enjoyed taking trips in their motorhome by themselves and with their children and grandchildren.
Ray is survived by two children, James Ray (Jim) Bienz, of Hughson, California, and Nancy Bartschi (Larry), of Bern, Idaho, six grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Rudolph and Marintha; brothers, Darrell Rudolph, Verlyn Derricott, and Wilford (Willie) LaMar; his wife, Lois Ann; daughter, Rae Ann Chavez; son David Bienz; son in-law David Chavez; and grandson Jerry Bienz.
A Viewing will be held on April 19, 2024, at Schwab Matthews Mortuary from 6-8 pm.
Funeral Services will be held at the Bern Ward Church on April 20, 2024, in Bern, Idaho at 11:00 am with a viewing prior to the service form 10-10:45.
Interment will be at the Bern Cemetery.
Ray’s family would like to give a special thanks to Doctor Meissner and the staff at the Bear Lake Skilled Nursing Home, who treated Ray with much kindness, love and patience.