Rex Lavern Tolman

Dr. Rex L. (Vern) Tolman, 81, of Shelley passed away Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at Madison Memorial Hospital from causes incident to age.  He had been staying the past month at Heritage Homes of Rexburg.  Prior to this he was living with his family who cared for him.

Rex was born on July 29, 1927 in Otto, Wyoming to Orson P. Tolman and Edith V. Anderson Tolman.  He attended local schools, graduating from Greybull High School in May of 1945. 

After attending one year of college at University of Wyoming he enlisted in the Army.  He served in post-war Japan as the clerk of E Company. After being discharged in May of 1947, he finished his bachelor’s degree at the University of Wyoming.  He then taught high school at Burlington, Wyoming.  Rex earned his Masters and Doctorate degrees at University of Wyoming in Educational Administration.  He worked as Superintendent of Schools in Hillsdale and Cowley, Wyoming.

The family then moved to Lewiston, Idaho in 1965 where he taught at Lewis-Clark State College for 29 years. He also served as chairman of the Education Department for several years.

Rex married Ellen Dorene King in the Salt Lake Temple on September 10, 1948.  They had a son, Bob, a daughter, Kathy, 10 grandchildren, and 15 great grandchildren.

Rex served as a Bishop in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Burlington, Wyoming and again in Lewiston, Idaho.  He also served in the Stake Presidency and as Stake Patriarch in the Lewiston Idaho Stake.

Rex enjoyed gardening, dancing, music, reading, playing with grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and visiting with friends. 

Rex is survived by his daughter Kathy (Garth) Winter, daughter-in-law Teresa (Bob) Tolman, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  His sisters, Pat (Jess) Black, Billings, Montana; Betty Hermanson, Bismarck, North Dakota; Laura (Bob) Elsasser, Las Vegas, Nevada; Ruth (Steve) Littlefield, Salt Lake City, Utah; and Sandra (Jim) Walker, Pleasant Grove, Utah; his brothers, Larry (Darlynn) Tolman, American Fork, Utah; and Little John (Ellen) Tolman, Chester, Utah.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorene, his son, Bob, three brothers and three sisters. 

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 20, at Nalder Funeral Home, 110 West Oak, Shelley, Idaho with Bishop Arden Anderson conducting.  The family will receive friends Saturday from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. at Nalder Funeral Home.  Burial will be in Taylor Cemetery with military rites by the American Legion Post 93.