Gilbert Oral Holyoak

Gilbert Oral Holyoak was born on October 14^th 1926 in Grand County, Moab, Utah the first born of Jesse Gilbert and Mattie Alberta Blackmore Holyoak. His ancestors came through the Hole-in-the rock and were some of the first to settle in the valley. At an early age Gilbert wrangled horses and kept watch over the cattle day and night. Gilbert graduated from Grand County High School. At the age of 17 with the signature of his mother enlisted in the U.S Navy and served his country honorably in World War II. He was on the aircraft carrier Kula Golf, where his post was a gunner’s mate at which he helped keep his ship safe.  After the war ended he was called to serve as an LDS missionary in the Texas-Louisiana Mission.  Upon his return he married his helpmeet and eternal sweetheart LaNae Cooper in the Salt Lake City, Utah Temple on September 28^th 1949.

They started their life together in Moab where Gilbert was able to do what he loved, spending time on the La Sal Mountains. They lived in a cabin and worked with other family members. Gilbert was a genuine cowboy; he rode and broke horses, went on cattle drives, and helped keep them in deer meat with his excellent marksmanship. He worked at the saw mill on the mountain as well.  Gilbert also worked for the Park Service on the survey crew and surveyed the road through Arches national park.  He also was an expert tree pruner. Their lives were blessed with the arrival of two daughters LaReta and Janet. In July 1955 they decided to take an opportune adventure and move to Montana with two other young couples in their family. They started in Arlee, Montana, where Carolyn a third daughter and their first son Gilbert Reed were born. Shortly after they settled in St. Ignatius, Montana on a Ranch at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, there with much hard work and diligence they raised Hereford cattle, Quarter horses and worked the ground. Another daughter Marilyn joined the family, giving them four girls and one boy. Gilbert worked in the Plywood mill in Polson, Montana and shod and broke horses to help subsidize the Ranch. They grew a garden large enough to feed the valley and gave much of it away to anyone in need.  Gilbert also spent much time caring for his and also his neighbor’s animals as he was gifted and spent much time learning how to perform veterinary procedures.  A bonus blessing Jamie was born several years later to complete their family. 

Gilbert held many LDS church responsibilities including stake high councilor, stake missionary, counselor in several bishoprics, served as the bishop of the St. Ignatius ward, and was a great asset to the scouting program. Gilbert and LaNae served a senior couple mission to South Dakota on the Wakpala, Standing Rock Sioux reservation.  When they returned home they sold their place in Montana and relocated to Thatcher, Idaho in May 1992 where they could be closer to a temple and be able to attend on a regular basis. They were also called to serve another mission at the church historical site in Chesterfield, Idaho.  Gilbert loved horses, cattle, hunting, fishing, cutting trail and clearing brush up on the mountain in Thatcher.  He and LaNae were hardly ever separated; they worked side by side together in all aspects of their life.  They left their posterity a treasured example of faith in God, missionary work, service, hard work, dedication, sacrifice, true love and devotion.  Gilbert cared for LaNae for several years after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. He gave up his daily trips up the mountain, horse rides, gardening, and enjoying the outdoors to care for her and would always say, “It is the least I can do”.  For this we owe him much gratitude and admiration.

Gilbert is survived by three daughters and two sons Janet Marie (Merlin) Anderson, Dillon, Mont.; Carolyn (Larry) Forsgren of Preston, Idaho; Gilbert “Reed” (Lili) Holyoak, Stillwater, Okla.; Marilyn (Shawn) Knutson of Treasureton, Idaho; James Daniel “Jamie”(Andrea) Thatcher, Idaho, son-in-law Edwin Maughan of Ronan, Mont.; a sister, Betty Joyce Foote, Kaysville, Utah a brother Dale Holyoak, Moab, Utah, 37 grandchildren and 76 great-grandchildren, with six on the way, and one great-great grandchild. He was preceed in death by his wife LaNae, a daughter La Reta Holyoak Maughan, a granddaughter Jodi Anderson Myers, brother Floyd Don, and his parents.   

Funeral services will be held on Saturday October 17th at 11:00 a.m. at the Thatcher-Williams LDS church in Niter, Idaho. A viewing will be held on Friday, October 16th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Webb Funeral Home, 1005 South 800 East in Preston and Saturday from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. at the church. Interment will be in the Cleveland Idaho Cemetery. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.webbmortuary.com