Obituary of John Carpenter

John Wesley Carpenter was born in Vale, Oregon on July 18, 1925 to Alfred W. and Mary A. Keele Carpenter.  Wesley, as he was commonly called, was the youngest of 5 children.   He died December 20, 2021 at his home in Midvale with his wife, his son, Ken, his granddaughter, Kendra, and her husband, Chad, by his side.

In 1944, he married Betty A. Snider.  They had seven children.  Betty died on January 1, 1969 from cancer.   On December 2, 1969, he married Ida “Elaine” Jeffords Dalgliesh, acquiring seven stepchildren.   He and Ida Elaine had one son.  Wesley was also a father-figure to his Rebman nieces and nephews, plus a couple of Elaine’s former stepchildren.  His fatherly love, concern, and caring were priceless blessings to all the children, both biological and non-biological. 

In his younger years, Wesley worked on farms, helped sheep shearing crews, and spent a stint in the US Army as a prison guard in a hospital.  In later years, he farmed some more, logged in the Idaho woods, was a dairyman in Colorado, and drove truck in Idaho.  He was still driving truck for a food processing plant in Fruitland at the age of 80.  Retirement from work was a sore trial to him.  

Wesley was preceded in death by his parents, his four siblings, his first wife, Betty, a son, Wesley Eugene (Buddy) Carpenter, a daughter, Marilyn A. Simmons, and a stepdaughter, Karen A. McClain.  He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Ida “Elaine” Carpenter, his children and step-children:  Carol (Roy) Hillsberry of Fruitland, ID; Bobby (Kay) Carpenter of Kennewick, WA; Wanda (Joe) Louis of Clarkston, WA;  Ken (Pam) Carpenter of Midvale, ID;  Jim Carpenter of Kamiah, ID; Doug (Jeannie) Carpenter of Scarbro, WV;  Ray (Donna) Dalgliesh of Vale, OR;  Linda Lycan of Nampa, ID;  Rick (Sonia) Dalgliesh of Ferdinand, ID;  Mike (Kim) Dalgliesh of Florence, CO;  Pat Dalgliesh of Ferdinand, ID; Tim Dalgliesh of Ferdinand, ID;  and son-in-law, Fred (Marg) Simmons of Caldwell, ID.  He is also survived by his Rebman “kids:” Mike (Susie) Rebman of Midvale, ID; Patti Atnip of Ontario, OR; Keith (Ruth) Rebman of Midvale, ID; and Leila (Randy) Ulmer of Sweet Home, OR.  The survivor list also includes 35 grandchildren, many great grandchildren, some great-great grandchildren, and great nieces and nephews.  A special dog, Buddy, mourns his passing.  

In lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorials made to the Midvale Ambulance, PO Box 131, Midvale, ID, 83645.

Arrangements by Thomason Funeral Home.