Brief Life Sketch
Jack was born inside an Idaho train depot where his family lived. As a boy, he loved spending time with train crews and used a secret space in the rafters to watch the city jail across the street.
When they moved to a farm, he helped with cattle roundups, rode his palomino Creamy, and broke his first horse, Socks. He and his friend Rex often found mischief, once catching trout with pitchforks in a canal and another time scorching his mother’s pans while harvesting wild honey.
As a teenager, Jack learned to drive a black-and-yellow Model A Ford nicknamed the "Bumble Bee" and was once shocked to see his own back wheel roll right past him.
At twelve, Jack accepted his sister Shirley's invitation to join her in being baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Regarding this event, Jack said, “This was a major milestone for me and a choice that influenced the rest of my life." Though a high school move to Rexburg was difficult, playing sports built his confidence, and it was there he met and married Mary Lyman.
After working for the railroad himself, Jack earned his degree and taught junior high math and science. He later transitioned into banking, moving across Idaho and Oregon before relocating to Washington to establish and run a state bank as its president. He deeply loved Alaska, visiting often as a Regional Representative for the Church.
Jack would often lead the singing during the traditional MDB program, including songs such as “When the Roll is Called up Yonder” and “I Saw the Light.”