Clen Atchley

Clen Preston Atchley was born June 10, 1944, in Rexburg, Idaho to Preston and Bonnie Mathis Atchley. He was the youngest of their three children and lived his life on the family farm east of Ashton. He attended school in Ashton and graduated from North Fremont High School in 1962. It was surprising he made it through his younger years with his love of mischief and M80s. But he survived, and continued his schooling, graduating from the University of Idaho in 1966. He then joined the Army, serving in the Viet Nam war. His experiences there influenced much of the rest of his life.

After the war, he returned to the farm. He married Emma Sawyer in 1970, and together with his family, they started Flying -A- Ranch Inc. Clen loved farming and was a long-term thinker, whose keen intellect prompted him to be both innovative and practical in integrating new ideas into farming practices. He installed the first pivot systems east of Ashton and was instrumental in bringing the Marysville Pipeline Project to fruition. He loved the challenge of growing potatoes and enjoyed working with the many other families and people he met while doing business. For him, it was the honest relationships and friendships that was just as important as the crop. He also participated in many agricultural organizations, including the National Potato Council, United Potato Growers of Idaho, the Committee of Nine and numerous local water boards and grower organizations. His long-term devotion to agriculture inspired him to join the Teton Regional Land Trust. He served as a director for several years and was President of the Board for a time. That lead to many years as a member of the Intermountain West Joint Ventures, an extensive regional conservation organization. Clen was also a partner in Greenline Equipment with Scott Kandler and Freddie Corcelius, a local John Deere dealership, for 18 years.

Clen and Emma together managed the farm and raised their daughters, Evelyn Atchley and Laura (Clayton) Pickard. They enjoyed travel and fishing together with friends and family, especially with his grandchildren. He and Emma made several mission trips to Chile and hosted Chilean students while Clen taught them the principles of large-scale American farming. Their home sits on a hill with a view of the Teton Mountain Range. Clen loved the landscape of the Ashton area and nothing delighted him more than watching the sunrises and sunsets on the mountains. He was always looking for ways to contribute to the wellbeing of the Ashton area and his neighbors, assisting with planting or harvesting in difficult weather, providing numerous scholarships for local students, donating to numerous projects, and enjoying the friendships. Clen was a faithful member of the Ashton Community United Methodist Church. He touched many lives and made them better by his kindness and love, but insisted on doing good quietly and without recognition.

He is survived by his wife Emma, daughters Evelyn and Laura (Clayton), grandchildren Catherine and Carter Pickard, and brother Chan (Judith) Atchley.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 21, at the Ashton Community United Methodist Church with Pastor Russ Rhodes officiating. The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., and Thursday morning from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m., both times at the church. Burial will be in the Shults Cemetery with military honors by the American Legion and Idaho Honor Guard.

Memorials may be sent to the Ashton Community Methodist Church, Box 366, Ashton, ID 83420, or University of Idaho Foundation, 875 Perimeter Drive MS 3143, Moscow, ID 83844-3143