Dale Keith Waddoups

Dale Keith Waddoups was born in Challis, Idaho on February 22nd , 1952. He passed away February 1, 2025 in Pocatello. He was the first child of Robert (Bob) and Charmaine Waddoups. He was raised in the Lost River Valley, where he enjoyed growing up riding horses, motorcycles and working on the farm and ranch. He graduated from Butte County High School in 1970. After high school he attended one semester at Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho, then he came back home to the Lost River Valley to work. During his life he had countless adventures in the valley with his cousins, brother, and many friends.

On February 19th of 1972, he got engaged to his sweetheart Debbie Daniels. Shortly after their engagement he was drafted into the United States Army. It was the last draft the United States has had and his draft number was 13. Keith served in the 82nd Airborne Division nearing the end of the Vietnam war. He was stationed at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He got a furlough from the Army and came back and married his sweetheart, Debbie Daniels on December 22, 1972, and they were later sealed together in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple.

After the wedding they packed as many belongings and gifts as they could into their Oldsmobile Cutlass and headed East across the countryside back to Fayetteville, North Carolina where Keith was stationed. It was here that they had their first-born daughter, Sarah Faye.

He became a Para-trooper and also was a mechanic in the motor pool for the Army, running generators for radio surveillance and maintained trucks and most of the equipment, which also included assignments running the backup generators for the Pentagon. Keith’s most favorite thing of all was jumping out of airplanes as a Para-trooper. He loved being in the air and really enjoyed his time in the Army. That following March, he completed his service and was honorably discharged from the army. Keith, Debbie, and little Sarah headed back home to the Lost River Valley to help his dad on the farm.

While Keith worked hard on his father’s farm and ranch, along came their second daughter, Jeannie. During this time, Keith farmed and ranched all summer long and into the winter. During the winter months he would support his family by driving truck for Arlo G. Lott Trucking. He also hauled cattle with Blaine Price all over the country, making countless memories. He always had a good trucking story to tell to anyone who would listen. Their family again grew with the addition of three more boys, Danny, Lake, and Blair. He loved working the farm and teaching his kids. Keith had a great love and very special bond with each and every one of his grandchildren and they loved spending time on the farm.

Keith enjoyed riding motorcycles all over the hillsides and competing in motorcross races with his buddies. He also enjoyed snowmobiling, riding horses and shooting with his buddies among other crazy adventures. Keith definitely loved the need for speed! Fast cars and flying were his passion. He always wanted to have his own airplane and talked about it often. He completed ground school and his solo flight as a pilot. An airplane was going to be the last great asset he wanted to add to his fleet of trucks, tractors, and equipment. Keith was a great piano and organ player. Not many got to hear him play but it was one of his many hidden and great talents, along with welding, repairing equipment and building anything he needed to. He was a hell of a baler mechanic and helped lots of neighbors with their break downs anytime he was asked. He was a motor head for sure, but cattle and horses were in his blood, along with Pepsi and Redbull! He had an eye for fancy horses and good cattle and riding a big stout horse was his style. Even though farming turned into the main operations as he worked with his boys, he often said he hated cows, but he has always had them. Keith has a hand full of horses now and some of the most spoiled fat cattle in the Valley. Keith recently purchased a fancy 2-year-old colt that he was very proud of, and had been riding him every morning for the last couple months. He just wouldn’t quit and was always pushing the limits. Right by his side was his best four-legged little Schnauzer friend Zippy and they were inseparable.

Keith served in many organizations around the community, including the Big Lost River Irrigation District Board, Lost River Electric Board, Butte County Planning & Zoning Board, Arco Airport Board, and he also served as a counselor in the Bishopric of the Lost River Ward, not to mention a lot of other boards we have probably forgotten about…………………………

He is preceded in death by his parents Robert (Bob) and Charmaine Waddoups. Keith is survived by his wife Debbie, their children Sarah Hymas (Chris) Hymas, Jeannie Waddoups-Hamm, Danny Waddoups (Zeeni), Lake Waddoups, Blair Waddoups (Maria) and twelve grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at 11:00 AM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Moore Idaho Stake Center, 3100 N. 3350 W. Moore, Idaho. A viewing will be held on Friday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Anderson Family Funeral Home, 2555 N. Highway 93, Arco, ID, and for one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in the Lost River Cemetery.

A zoom link has been provided for those not able to attend the service in person and can be located at andersonfamilyfunerals.com