Juel Aikele

Juel Aikele, 87, passed away at his home in Carey, Idaho, on Thursday, August 17, 2023. He was under the care of Hospice and Palliative Care of the Wood River Valley, and his family. Juel was born on April 24, 1936, at the family home in Moore (Lost River), Idaho, to Andreas Aikele and Josephine Partington Aikele. His mother was not in good health for several years and passed away in 1946 when Juel was 10 years old. He attended schools in Moore and Arco. He graduated from Butte High School in 1955, where he was the student body president, ran on a relay team that “won some races,” and “played the role of a punching bag on the boxing team.”

On October 15, 1956, Juel was married to Mary Anne Stricklan. Together they raised four children, wheat, barley, hay, and a few cows. In order to provide for his family Juel farmed for 50 years in the Lost River Valley. They then resided in Shelley, Idaho, for a short time and moved to Carey, Idaho, to live out their lives. Mary Anne passed away in 2012, which left Juel at quite a loss. He worked in the garden growing raspberries and potatoes until the summer of 2023, when he decided his farming days were over.

Juel was on the Board of Directors for the Lost River Electric Co-op for 21 years. He was able to do some traveling with this group and was always happy for the experience. He held a few different callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, of which he was an active member. For many years he was in the bishopric and served as the Lost River Ward bishop for 5 years. He was active as the priesthood arm of leadership in the scouting program. He hiked, backpacked, snow- and water-skied, built miles of barbed-wire fence, tied ties, built self-esteem and helped prepare many young men for adulthood as missionaries, fathers, and leaders in church and community callings. He was a member of the High Council in the Moore, Idaho Stake.

Juel is preceded in death by his wife Mary Anne, parents Andreas and Josephine and his step-mother Elaine Thomas Hyde, brothers and sisters Andreas LaMont, Herman (Atha), Don (Caroline), Helen (Scott) Walker, Agnes (Ross) Chamberlain, Lucille (Howard) Morgan, and three grandchildren, Nathan Aikele, Gerrett Carlson and Andrea Carlson. Juel is survived by his four children, Michael (Lori), Steven (Peggy), Adrienne (Doug) Harmer, and Milynda (Greg) Carlson, 12 grandchildren, Elizabeth (Matt) Kelly, Paul (Emily) Aikele, Christopher (Savannah) Aikele, Shauna (Zack) Cutler, Diane (Taylor) Goggins, Elaine (Micha) Spencer, AmyJo (Brandeis) Tilleman, James (Kamryn) Carlson, Andrew (Caitlin) Carlson, Nicholas (Rose) Harmer, Hannah (Slade) Collins, and Camille (Arthur) Wardle, and 29 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held for Juel on Saturday, August 26th, at the LDS chapel in Carey, Idaho, at 11:00 am. Family will visit with friends and family from 10:00-10:45 before the ceremony. Visitation will be the evening before, August 25th, from 6:00-8:00 pm at The Anderson Funeral Home in Arco, Idaho. Interment will be at 3:00 at the Lost River Cemetery in Moore, Idaho.