Bill Berry, age 90, died March 9, 2016 of causes incident to old age. Bill was born May 18, 1925 in Springfield, Missouri to John L Berry and Susie Elizabeth Glass. The youngest of nine children, he was named Billy Emerson Berry. By 1930, his family had moved to Idaho where Bill attended school and graduated from Boise High School in 1943. Bill was drafted into the Army in September 1943 and served in the Pacific theater. He also served in the Korean Conflict and reached the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. On July 19, 1944, Bill married his high school sweetheart, Colleen Reynolds, at her parent's home in Boise. Bill joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while attending the University of Idaho in Moscow, and he and Colleen were sealed in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on April 16, 1954. They have five children: Kay Ann, Jeannine, Lynette, David and Renea. Bill earned a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, a Master's degree in Agricultural Engineering, and was a pioneer in pump testing. He worked for Idaho Power for 35 years in both Twin Falls and Boise and continued as a pump-testing consultant after retirement. Bill volunteered as a Junior Achievement mentor and president of the Washington Elementary P.T.A. He faithfully served in numerous church callings, including counselor in the Twin Falls 4th Ward bishopric and ordinance worker in the Boise Idaho LDS Temple. In 1972, Bill and Colleen purchased the Harmon Haven Concession Stand and Kiddie Rides at Twin Falls Harmon Park from their neighbors, Gene and Dottie Buster. One year later, Idaho Power transferred Bill to its Boise main office, but the family continued running Harmon Haven for 10 years after moving to Boise. Each summer the family rented an apartment near Harmon Park, and Bill drove from Boise to Twin every weekend to help operate and maintain the stand, merry-go-round and other rides. Bill was an extraordinary father and grandfather. His children and grandchildren loved hearing him read Old Mother West Wind stories and recite from memory "The Other Wiseman" by Henry van Dyke. After Colleen's death in February 1999, Bill married Ruby McGrew on Dec. 29, 2000. Bill and Ruby moved from Boise to Nampa to be near Ruby's family. Bill's children want to thank Mark & Chris McGrew and John & Judy (McGrew) Wydick for the loving care they have given Bill & Ruby for several years. Bill is survived by his wife, Ruby, and four children and their spouses: Jeannine (Kirk) Larsen of Idaho Falls, Lynette (Don) Kenney of Mesa, Arizona, Dave (Melissa) Berry of Eagle, Idaho and Renea (Greg) Campbell of Orem, Utah. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren: Todd Kenney, Brad Larsen, Eric Larsen, Allen Kenney, Julie Kenney Walters, Matt Larsen, Brandon Kenney, Christie Larsen Urquijo, Alex Campbell and Nathan Campbell, and 24 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by Ruby's three children and their spouses: Judy (John) Wydick, Paul (Olivia) McGrew and Mark (Chris) McGrew, all of Nampa and their 21 children and 43 grandchildren who he treated as his own. He was preceded in death by his parents and eight brothers and sisters: Bessie, Lloyd, Hazel, Joe, Jess, Orvie, Cecil and Clyde; by his first wife, Colleen, and their daughter, Kay Ann. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 19 at the Nampa South LDS Stake Center, 7809 Deer Flat RD in Nampa with a viewing to be held from 10 to 10:45 a.m. prior to the services. Bishop Kurt Pancheri will preside. Arrangements are under the direction of Zeyer Funeral Chapel, Nampa. 467-7300. Condolences may be expressed at zeyerfuneralchapel.com.
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