Jones & Casey Funeral Home Inc.

Francine Joyce Rice passed away in her home in Challis, Idaho Monday, January 27, 2025, with loved ones at her bedside after her battle with cancer. Francine was born on August 27, 1964 to Robert Paul Huebner and Sally Ann Irving Huebner at St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Francine spent her early childhood years in Winnipeg. She graduated from Vincent Massey High School and later she trained as an optician at King Optical in Winnipeg. She later met and married Joseph Arnold Hess of Rexburg, Idaho. They moved to Rexburg in 1990 where they raised their one child, Jeffrey Joseph Hess. After Francine's and Joe's marriage dissolved, Francine met the love of her life, Randy...

Please see full obituary at jonesandcaseyfh.com

Wayne, known as Duke since the 1980s, V. Callahan, of Challis, Idaho, travelled the high trail January 3, 2025. He was one of five children born to Lauvell and Bessie Callahan in 1951, living a difficult youth in Oregon and California. In 1968 he joined the U.S. Marine Corps, turning 17 in boot camp. He served two tours in Vietnam and at 19, the youngest Sergeant in the Corps at the time, was an Amtrac platoon leader. He earned medals, but also came home to an ungrateful and angry nation. He left the Marine Corps as Staff Sergeant and entered government service with the Department of the Treasury, U.S. Customs Patrol, some 10 years later, in 1978. He said he was in the Marine Corps on...

Patricia (Pat) Clutis, age 95, of Challis, Idaho passed away December 6th at the Discovery Care Center in Salmon, Idaho. Pat was born on December 4th, 1929 in Boise, Idaho the daughter of Clyde Ralph Benson and Maude Ann Mosher Benson. Pat's mother died when she was six years old. She spent much of her early years living with her grandparents and aunts and uncles, while her father traveled to find work. Growing up, she attended many different schools in Idaho and Oregon. Pat, her brother, and her father later moved to the Salmon area. During this time Pat met her future husband, Wayne Clutis. On their first date he took her for a ride on his D7 Bulldozer, conveniently getting stuck...

Clarence Jordan Leuzinger, affectionately known as Pa to family and friends, 88, passed away August 21, 2024, at his home in Challis, Idaho, surrounded by family. Clarence was born March 21, 1936, in Bayhorse, Idaho to Jake and Della Lucille Giampedraglia Leuzinger. Clarence was the middle child, having an older sister Margaret "Toots" Hutchens and a younger brother Doyle Leuzinger. Clarence attended school in Challis, graduating from Challis High School. Clarence loved sports and participated in football and basketball during his school years. Upon graduation, Clarence worked at the Cobalt Mine as an underground miner, leaving to seek other employment when they went on strike. He landed...

Tina Marie Smith (Pettit) passed away peacefully at home in Challis, Idaho on June 30, 2024 at the age of 65 surrounded by family. Tina fought a short but courageous battle with Cancer. Born January 11, 1959 in Columbus, Ohio to Thomas and Dixie (Robson) Pettit, Tina was the first of four children. She grew up a military brat and attended schools in Michigan, Tennessee, Washington, Louisiana and California, Graduating from Livermore High School in California in 1977. Tina met and married the love of her life Robert "Bobby- Bubba" Williams in Challis, Idaho in 1983. Tragically, Bobby lost his life in a motorcycle accident on August 23, 1990. One Christmas Tina and Bobby went on an...

Wayne Fremont Butts, devoted husband, father, papa, and friend to many, died peacefully at home in Challis, Idaho on January 8, 2024, with his loved ones by his side. Wayne was born December 14, 1955 in Los Banos, California to James and Donna Butts. When Wayne was 11 years old his family moved from California to Challis, Idaho. As a teen he would spend his time exploring the mountains hunting, fishing, and causing mischief. He graduated from Challis High school in 1974. After high school Wayne spent time trapping, working as a core driller, and factory work for his dad in Gustine, California. It was there that he met Kathy Laubach, the love of his life. It didn't take long though,...

Thomas (Tom) Ennis Chivers, 76, of Filer, Idaho, passed away on December 11, 2023, in Wahoo, Nebraska, following his three-year battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Tom was surrounded by his wife, sons, and daughter at his daughter's home in Wahoo prior to his passing. Born to Aileen (Ennis) and Thomas W. Chivers in Salmon, Idaho, Tom was the oldest of eight children (Peggy, Steve, Anne, Johnny, Theresa, Mary, and Roy). He grew up in Challis on his parents' cattle ranch settled below the red bluff cliffs and along the Salmon River northeast of town. The ranch was where he learned how to work, learned the craft of being a cowboy, developed a love for Quarter horses, found a...

Loudine C Drexler Knight was born in Castleford, Idaho on December 10, 1932 to John M Drexler and Juanita Adkins Drexler. She was welcomed home by two brothers, Orville and Melvin. She lived on the family farm there until she was twelve when the family bought a farm in Hailey, Idaho where she lived the remainder of her childhood. She was joined by a sister, Mary Ann during this time. She had a love for music and learned piano, accordion and played trombone in the high school band. She was a member of the Campfire Girls and enjoyed outings and excursions with them. She graduated from Hailey High school in 1950 and married Robert H Knight on June 17, 1950. She and Robert, Bob as he was...

Graveside services for Betty Lou (Landon) Maraffio , are scheduled for Friday August 25 at 2 pm, at the Challis Cemetery. Betty passed away peacefully with her family by her side in Salmon August 19, 2023. She was born to Stella (Bruce) Crook and Hyram Crook, Feb. 4, 1925 in Idaho Falls, she was one of ten children. She was 98 years old. Betty Lou was nothing short of amazing. All knew her as a very strong, hard-working woman. she was an accomplished seamstress, Gardner, rancher, bookkeeper and Baker. Of course, what she loved doing the most was being "Grams". After retiring from Custer telephone. company, her longevity and good health, and adventurous spirit allowed her to...

Viola Merle Hamilton O'Neal, or "Sis" as she was known by her siblings, cousins, and friends, passed away at her home of 55 years, on Wednesday, July 19th 2023 at the age of 95. Viola spent most of her 95 years of life in the Pahsimeroi Valley. Born in 1928 to Milla and Merle (Ben) Hamilton, she and her siblings Bud (Burl), Bill (William), Nolan and Rose grew up in a Pahsimeroi much closer to the wild west than the valley we know today. She remembered racing horses with Rose on their way back from school and getting in trouble when a neighbor told their parents. High school took Viola to Salmon, where she stayed with Grandma Dowton. After graduating in 1946 she went to Albion Normal...

In the early hours of July 11th, 2023, in Herriman, Utah, Jimmie Lee Dowton, 83, peacefully returned home to his Heavenly Father after bravely facing some health challenges. Surrounded by his beloved family, he passed away, leaving behind a legacy of love and cherished memories. Jimmie was born on August 10, 1939, in Salmon, Idaho, to Clara Bernard Means, who later married Sydney Mark Dowton. He spent his formative years in May, Idaho, where he was the eldest of four siblings. Graduating from Challis High School in 1957, he furthered his education, earning certificates in Diesel Mechanics and Advanced Auto Mechanics from Idaho State College in 1959. During his time in school in Pocatello,...

William (Bill) Jennings Lindsey III took his ride on Scooter to heaven's fields in the early hours of May 7, 2023, at his home in Challis, Idaho. Bill was born December 7, 1942, in Albuquerque, New Mexico to William and Nettie (O'Donnell) Lindsey from Shreveport, Louisiana. Bill grew up in Shreveport and graduated from high school and then went into the Army where he served during the Vietnam war. He married Glenda Gayle McClure 26 years ago. They both felt like they were soulmates due to knowing each other in high school, dating and then going separate ways only to find themselves till death do them part. They married in Colorado Springs, Colorado and then moved to Challis, Idaho where...

Billie Joyce arrived on this earth January 10, 1937 and left us April 30th, 2024. Joyce was the eldest child of William(Bill) & Bessie Hammond. She never did care for being called Billie! She spent most all of her life in Custer County, she was born at the Challis Hot Springs in the dead of winter, while her parents were working at Bayhorse Mine. She grew up the Hammond ranches in the Passemaroi and Round Valleys and attended school in Challis, then college in Pocatello at ISU. She married Roland Rovetto on the 4th of July 1957 in Reno Nevada. Sadly losing him in 2008 after his long battle with cancer. They had three children Randi, Karen, & Dennis. Randi passed in 2017 of...

Please read the full obituary at jonesandcaseyfh.com

Genaro Arrizubieta Etxebarria, 89, passed away peacefully at his home with his family by his side March 4th, 2023. Genaro was born March 2, 1934 to Jose Arrizubieta Orbe and Raimunda Etxebarria Aboitiz in Ispaster, Spain in the Basque province of Bizkaia near the Pyrenees mountains. Growing up, his family witnessed and experienced many hardships after their homeland was attacked during the times of World War II. His father Jose, travelled to South America and eventually found his way to the Pahsimeroi Valley where he worked as a sheepherder, sending money back to Spain to support the family. Inspired by his father, Genaro was famous for saying "take care of the things that take care of you"...

Jerry (Gerald) Lee Rosenkrance was born in Challis, Idaho, on August 16, 1957, and died peacefully on November 4, 2022, while receiving hospice care. Jerry was educated by his adored grandma Gladys (Cookie) and Aunt Teddy while growing up and attending school in Cobalt. He also attended school in Mackay, and Challis. Jerry completed his high school education in Challis in 1976. After High School, Jerry started his life long career in mining. Jerry worked several places both underground and as a heavy-duty mechanic. He worked in a variety of mines including Clayton Silver, Cobalt, Thompson Creek, and Hecla mines in Idaho, Cyprus in Bagdad, AZ, Barrick Gold, and Round Mountain Gold in Nevada....

William Francis Schlenk, Jr (AKA Bill, Billy, Yogi) died in his adopted city of Salmon, Idaho on October 4, 2022. Bill was the son of William F. and Virginia V. Schlenk and born in Gloucester, Massachusetts on November 3, 1947. He was raised in Glen Allen, Virginia and graduated from Hermitage High School in 1966. After the family moved to California, Bill graduated from California State University Fullerton. He enlisted in the US Marine Corps and then became a teacher in Salmon for many years. Though Bill never married or had children he had hundreds of his "kids". He loved the fishing, hunting, the great outdoors and the white water in the Salmon River where his ashes were...