Steven Curtis “Curt” Wilkins

Steven Curtis “Curt” Wilkins passed away 16 September 2026, in his Idaho Falls home, at the age of 83.

Curt was born 16 March 1943, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, the second son of Byron Elwood and Alyce Hay Wilkins. He grew up on the family’s farm in Coltman, Idaho, which his grandfather had homesteaded. The family later added two more sons and a daughter. Curt attended Bonneville High School and enjoyed playing baseball and the muddy, mischievous escapades that come with boyhood on a farm.

After high school, he served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the French East Mission, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. After he returned, he married his high school sweetheart, LaVern Braithwaite, in the Logan, Utah, LDS Temple, on 19 September 1963. Together, they had six children. He attended Ricks College in Rexburg-where he played on the baseball team-then continued on to Brigham Young University, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physics.

While working on his master’s degree, he worked for Motorola in Phoenix, AZ, where he contributed to the development of the seek and scan chips used in modern car radios. After completing his master’s degree, he worked as a nuclear physicist for the INEL / INL. He also worked on nuclear development projects abroad, including with CEA Saclay (Paris, France); Kernforschungszentrum (Karlsruhe, Germany); Paul Scherrer Institut (Zurich, Switzerland); and Cadarache (Aix-en-Provence, France).

Curt spent his career working in nuclear measurement and instrumentation and was known for his specialty in thermocouples, especially developing zircaloy-sheathed thermocouples for in-pile use. He was a long-standing member of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), particularly with the Subcommittee on Thermocouples.

When he wasn’t working abroad, he and his family lived in Idaho Falls.

After retirement, Curt continued to serve in the Church of Jesus Christ. He and LaVern served two missions together: in the France Paris Mission as a senior couple, and in the Idaho Pocatello Mission overseeing housing. He also served as a temple worker for many years.

He enjoyed baseball, sports, crosswords, jigsaw puzzles, and all things French. He also enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, discussing BYU sports, and going on adventures such as skydiving and riding roller coasters.

Curt is survived by a sister, Alyce Joy (Dennis) Huber of Mesa, AZ; a brother, Thayle (Marianne) Wilkins of Idaho Falls, ID; his sons, Kip (Mike Lagueux) Wilkins of Ahwatukee, AZ, Travis (Bernice) Wilkins of Idaho Falls, ID, and Dana Wilkins of Stuttgart, Germany; two daughters, Wendy King of Hyrum, UT, and Katrina Wilkins of Idaho Falls, ID; 16 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Alyce; his father, Elwood; two brothers, Blair and Noel; and a daughter, Laraine.

The family wishes to thank Chanse Powell of Senior Solutions; Aspen Home Health and Hospice; and Synergy Home Care for their many hours of compassionate care.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, September 26, 2026, at the Templeview Ward, 1450 Mountain View Lane in Idaho Falls. The family will visit with friends Friday from 6:30-8:00 p.m.at Wood Funeral Home, 273 N. Ridge Avenue, as well as Saturday from 10:00-10:45 a.m. prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in Grant Central Cemetery.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.woodfuneralhome.com.