After a yearlong battle with cancer Lonnie Bartell Semon, age 70, of Meridian, Idaho passed away at home on August 12, 2017. He was born to Jack Bartlett Wolf and Venna Kingston in Star Valley Wyoming March 25, 1947. After his parents divorced his mother remarried, and he was then adopted by his step father, Arthur Fred Semon. He was a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in different capacities including a 2-year mission to the Central States Mission encompassing Missouri, Iowa, Arkansas and Illinois. Throughout his life, he maintained his mission was one of the greatest events of his life as it helped him become the man he was. He met his future wife, Rosemary Durfee when she was 15, and he was 18. She was the younger sister of his best friend. At the time he felt she was a pest. After his mission, he came home and found she was no longer the annoying younger sister, but a beautiful young lady. They dated for a while then married June 12, 1970. They became the parents of 5 children: Rochelle (Shelly), Sean Bartell, Debra, Robert James, and Heather. He was happy to be called dad by all of his children. In his working life, he held many jobs. Some of those included working on a dairy, car salesman, coal truck driver, milkman, manager at multiple places, and tow truck driver. He also spent his summers working for his grandmother and her neighbors in the fields of Star Valley, Wyoming. His values in life came from his many life experiences. He valued family more than anything else. He loved his family with everything he was and worked tirelessly in providing for their needs. A strong work ethic was central to his core values. He lived it himself, expected it from those he worked for and those who he had responsibility for. He held himself to a high level of integrity and a job well done. Throughout his life, he was involved in many different activities. Some of those included riding in the Sheriff's Posse for rodeos, a car club in high school called the Road Angels and then being part of Search and Rescue when living in Wyoming. He loved all of those activities as they gave him a sense of camaraderie, accomplishment, and service. Wherever he was, he tried to be a peacemaker. He would always try to find a solution to any situation which would not have involved fighting or arguing. He used that virtue many times while growing up, working in his various jobs and then in raising a family. He was a man who was loved and adored by those who knew him. He was known for his work ethic, his love for his family, his love for a good tease and his love for God. He will be sorely missed by his family, those who considered him family, and friends who knew him well. Lonnie was preceded in death by his brother Stephen Semon; his parents Jack Bartlett Wolf, Arthur Fred Semon and Venna Kingston Semon; also by his son Sean Bartell Semon. He is survived by his wife Rosemary; children: Rochelle Lloyd (Chuck), Debra, Robert (Sharon) and Heather as well as 8 grandchildren: Dustin Allen Lloyd, Micah Charles Lloyd, Jaedyn Rochelle Lloyd, Bryson Ronald Lloyd, James Edmond Lloyd, Lily Ariana Semon, Ella Grace Semon and Preston James Semon; and his sister Linda Frahm (Steve) and brother Kerry Semon. Many thanks to those who assisted in helping him, and us, during this last year. Thank you to Jessica, Mo, and others from Compassus Hospice for their love and care for our family and him. Your care and wisdom were invaluable. To those from church who took the time to give us comfort, compassion, food, and love. We could not have gotten through this as well if not for you. Thank you to those who enabled him to enjoy one of the loves of his life--cars--during his final months by showing him their classics and offering rides. It made him feel young and human again. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, August 18 at the Tully Park LDS Ward Chapel, 5501 N. Meridian Rd in Meridian with a viewing from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. prior to the services. Arrangements by Zeyer Funeral Chapel, Nampa. 208-467-7300 Burial will take place at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, August 19 at Elysian Burial Garden, 1075 E. 4580 S. Millcreek, UT 84117.
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