The following obituaries appeared in the February 14, 2018 edition of the Star Valley Independent.
Dennis Coy Hebdon, 74, of Rexburg, Idaho, passed away unexpectedly on February 9, 2018, at Madison Memorial Hospital. Dennis was born July 21, 1943, in Afton, Wyoming, to William LaRell Hebdon and Sybil Coy Cox. He grew up and attended schools in Star Valley, graduating from Star Valley High School. He was a member of the National Guard and the Lions Club. Dennis married Darlene McGavin in 1965. They were blessed with three children, Darin, DeAnn and Danny. They were later divorced. He made his home in Rexburg, where he owned and operated the R&B Drive-Inn for over 30 years. He was with his partner, Nancy Robison, since 2002. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Dennis was very supportive with his kids and grandkids, attending their baptisms, supporting them while on missions, and with all their various activities. He played solitaire every day with the same old deck of cards. He enjoyed fishing, duck hunting, riding his razors and spending time with his friends and family. He had such a good heart and was always looking for ways to support those in need. He displayed a donation tree and raised money with his R&B crew to give to needy families in the community. Dennis is survived by his partner, Nancy Robison of Rexburg; son, Darin (Heidi) Hebdon of Idaho Falls; daughter, DeAnn (Jeremy) Bland of South Jordan, Utah; son, Danny (Annie) Hebdon of Rexburg; sister, LaRue Persons of Idaho Falls; sister, Judy (Mike) Bolan of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; 16 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, LaRell and Sybil Hebdon, stepfather, Fred Ames, and brother, Brent Hebdon. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 17, 2018, at the Rexburg LDS Stake Center, 2041 West 5200 South, with Bishop Lane Lindstrom officiating. The family will visit with friends Friday from 6:30-8 p.m. and Saturday from 10-10:45 a.m. prior to services, both visitations at the church.
E. Herbert Andersen Jr. was born in Marysville, California (northern California) on Oct. 29, 1927. He was the son of E. Herbert Andersen Sr. and Charlotte Mary Smith. In about 1930 the family (including little sister Charlene) moved to San Francisco where his father found employment as a cook and chef at the Francis Drake Hotel. It was the height of the great depression and his father’s job soon disappeared and he was unable to find employment for about two years. About 1934 the family moved to Sacramento, where his father finally found employment at the Senator Hotel. They found a home in east Sacramento where young Herbert and his sister Charlene were raised, graduating from Sacramento Senior High School in Feb. of 1945. He attended the Sacramento Junior College Technical Institute of Aeronautics for one year and then left for full time employment as an apprentice aircraft and engine mechanic at a company called Aircraftsmen, subsequently receiving his aircraft and engine mechanics license a few years later. He joined the LDS Church at the age of 12 and was called on a mission to Denmark in 1947, where he served for two and a half years, being released in June, 1950. In 1952, during a trip to an LDS general conference, he made a trip to Star Valley to visit the CallAir factory and met Reuel and Barlow Call. He decided that the CallAir factory would be a fun place to work. He accepted a job offer from Reuel Call and moved to Afton in Nov. of 1953. He met the love of his life, Laura Meldrum the following year and they were married in the Idaho Falls Temple in Jan. of 1955. During the years, they lived in many places, from Texas (Mooney Aircraft) to Florida (Piper Aircraft) to Afton (Call-Air, IMCO Inc.) to Georgia (Aero Commander) and back to Afton (Polaris Pitts, Christen Industries, Aviat). He is survived by his loving wife Laura of 63 years, three daughters, Laural Jane Andersen, Mary Lee Vega, Juliann Kelley, 11 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held Monday, Feb. 12 at noon at the Afton 4th Ward LDS Chapel. A viewing was held Sunday, Feb. 11 at Schwab Mortuary in Afton and prior to the services at the Church.
