BYUI dean, known as ‘angel on the tractor,’ dies at age 56

REXBURG — The Brigham Young University-Idaho community is mourning after the dean of students died Wednesday night at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.

Kip Harris, 56, is being remembered as a jack of all trades who was willing to help anyone in need. He was known by his neighbors as the “angel on the tractor” because he would wake up at 4:30 a.m. every time it snowed and plow other driveways in his neighborhood, according to his obituary.

Harris and his wife, Nola, were the parents of four children. He was born in Sugar City and began working at Ricks College in 1989 before becoming the BYU-Idaho dean of students in 2009. He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served as the bishop in his home congregation and of a BYU-Idaho student ward.

In an email sent to students and faculty members Thursday, the BYU-Idaho administration expressed the “love, support and appreciation of the entire campus community.” The University Relations office is compiling a book of remembrance that will be given to the Harris family.

Harris’ funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the Sugar City LDS Stake Center at 315 East 300 South. The family will receive friends on Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Flamm Funeral Home in Rexburg. Harris will be buried at the Sugar City Cemetery.

A cause of death has not been released.