J. Philip Ricks Obituary

J. Philip Ricks, 68, died Dec. 27, 2008, at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center as a result of a stroke.
He was born May 23, 1940, to LaVere Arnold and Lucille Johnson Ricks in Rexburg, Idaho. He was the oldest of seven children. He graduated from Madison High School.
He received an associate degree from Ricks College and a Bachelor of Arts from Utah State University. He served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Stockholm, Sweden.
He married Karla Rae Davenport on Jan. 12, 1963, in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. Philip and Karla have nine children. Philip loved his children and grandchildren, and they were a central part of his life. One of his greatest joys was thinking of how he could help his children and grandchildren. He has left us a tremendous legacy of love, service and faithfulness. He was an active member of the LDS church and served as bishop's counselor, bishop, high councilman and temple worker. He enjoyed serving youths and coaching basketball. He received an Award of Merit for Scouting.
Philip was a farmer and part owner of local Wendy's restaurants. He served as a member of the KID broadcasting board, the local canal board and participated in the Leadership Idaho Agriculture program. He was a member of the Carousel Chorus and loved to sing barbershop. He shared his love of barbershop by organizing youth barbershop festivals for area high schools and Brigham Young University-Idaho. He invited quartets to Rexburg, including international champions, to sing at these festivals, and was show chairman of the Carousel Chorus for many years.
Survivors include his wife, Karla of Rexburg; his children, Karinne (Boyd) Young of Tehachapi, Calif., Val (Elizabeth) Ricks of The Woodlands, Texas, Susan Ricks of Rexburg, Marie Ricks of South Jordan, Utah, and Kevin (Andrea) Ricks, Neal (Annette) Ricks, Jolyn (Dave) Olsen and Emily (Ryan) Durfee, all of Rexburg, and Kyle (Emily) Ricks of Indianapolis, Ind.; siblings, Sherwood (Georgia) Ricks and Paul (Linda) Ricks, both of Rexburg, LaJean (Val) Clarke of McCammon, Idaho, Lyndon (Elizabeth) Ricks of Centerville, Utah, and Carol (Roy)Terry of West Valley City, Utah; a sister-in-law, Dotty Ricks of Rexburg; 27 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Shelby Ricks.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 2, 2009, at the Rexburg LDS Stake Center, 845 W. Seventh South, with Bishop Greg Wightman officiating. The family will receive friends from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Flamm Funeral Home in Rexburg and from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Friday at the stake center prior to services. Interment will be in Sutton Cemetery in Archer.

Published in the Post Register on 12/30/2008