Ross Curtis Bird

Our father, Ross Curtis Bird of Preston, Idaho, passed away at his home, in the snowy early morning hours of Saturday, November 16, 2024, surrounded by six of his children on this side of the veil and one child on the other side. He was 99½ plus 2, having been born on May 14, 1925 to Curtis Wilford Bird and Sarah Hale in Blackfoot, Idaho.

He was the oldest of five children; Yvonne (Darrell) Rae, Vonda (Edwin) Davidson, Vearl (Patsy Ann) Bird, and Rosemary (Bill) Livingston. Most of Ross’s childhood was spent in Lynn, Utah, a small town in the northwestern corner of Utah near the Idaho border, affectionately referred to as “Junction”. He and Yvonne and Vonda had fond memories of riding their horses everywhere, including to school. Their house was located near the Raft River, where they herded their cattle and raised their crops, all mostly done on horseback. 

In Lynn, there were only the first 8 grades available in the school, making it necessary to complete high school by attending in a larger town. After the eighth grade, Ross went to live with an uncle and later his grandparents in Blackfoot, Idaho, to attend school. At the end of his 9th grade, his parents bought a ranch in Wyoming and he moved with them so he could help with the ranch. He never returned to school.

In what would have been their senior year, Ross married Delsa Maxcine Petersen on September 22, 1943 in the Logan Utah temple. They moved into the bunkhouse on the ranch. While there, Dora Kay was born. They later moved to Kimberly, Idaho where Christine and Esther were born. 

These were a couple of the 19 moves they made. After moving back to Wyoming, Rexann, Craig, Wandel, and Darlene were born, making seven children in all.

Ross always dreamed of owning and operating a dairy. Three different times he was able to realize that dream, in Fort Bridger, Wyoming, Farson, Wyoming, and Preston, Idaho.

In addition to being a dairyman, he was also a union carpenter, working on several dams and schools, rancher, farmer, and Pinkerton security guard. Above all, he was a real true blue cowboy.

He and Maxcine served as temple workers and went on a mission to Independence, Missouri. She passed away on January 3, 2011. He married Cleo Poulton December 24, 2012. 

Ross was preceded in death by his parents, his three sisters, both his wives, his son, Wandel Curtis, a son in law, Ken Aimone, and his twin grandsons, Denny and Danny Bird. He is survived by Dora Kay (Merlin) Hysell, Christine (Bob) Stoddard, Esther (Willis) Little, Rexann (Steve) Cronin, Craig (Roxy) Bird, Laurie Bird, and Darlene (Kevin) Atkinson, 26 grandchildren, 72 great grandchildren, and 31 great great grandchildren. 

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at 1:00 pm at the Fairview First Ward Chapel, 165 West 4800 South, Preston, Idaho. Viewings will be held Friday at Webb Funeral Home, 1005 South 800 East, Preston, Idaho, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm and again prior to the service Saturday from 11:30 am – 12:30 pm at the church. Interment will be in the Fairview Idaho Cemetery. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at webbmortuary.com

The services will be available to stream live Saturday November 23 at 1:00 pm MST by clicking the following link:

https://youtube.com/live/M5t2g4HPQN0?feature=share