Ricky “Rick” Dean Caudle

Ricky “Rick” Dean Caudle was born June 19, 1958 to Stanley “Stan” Floyd Caudle and Shirley Bowsher Caudle in Monticello, Indiana. He is the youngest of two brothers: Kevin Eugene and Jonnie Edward. On October 31, 2023, Rick was working on his last outside winter project where he stumbled, tripped, and hit his head passing away suddenly.

In 1968, the family was invited to come for a summer visit to Stan’s older brother Ray & Ruth Caudle. The family fell in love with the area and in a year’s time the Caudle’s said goodbye to their family and friends in Indiana and hello to Idaho! Prior to moving to Idaho, Stan built and raced stock cars where he would compete at the local track almost every weekend. Rick and his brothers had a lot of exposure being around machinery, working on cars, and learned how to rebuild engines and transmissions to make them run faster and better. After moving to Monteview, the stock car racing stopped, and the farming began. Rick, along with his brothers Kevin and Jon, had to learn quickly how to grow and harvest hay and grain while their father worked.

Rick attended Terreton Elementary/Junior High and was excited about being able to get his driver’s license at 14 in Idaho. Gary Seedall was the driver’s education teacher so anytime that Gary needed motorcycle parts, he would call Rick first to see if he wanted to drive him to town. During the school year, Rick saved enough money from working on the farm to purchase his first car – a 1969 Teal Green Plymouth Fury. He loved keeping his car in tune and driving his friends to and from school.

A couple years later, he sold his calves and purchased his mothers’ 1969 Chrysler 2 door which was big enough to seat all of his friends: Ron Turner, Scott Carpenter, Neal Sanders, Brian Allen, Junior Nino, and Richard Stimpson. In 1976, gas was cheap, less than a dollar a gallon, so when he wasn’t helping with the farm, he was hanging out with friends or in Idaho Falls playing Foosball or Pool at The Billiard’s Club or at Nick and Laura Kormanik’s Snack Shop in Mud Lake. The Snack Shop was a favorite space for kids to hangout where they could come and play pin ball, listen to the juke box, and eat a burger. This was where Debbie met Ricky Caudle for the first time (she worked there). They became best friends, went on double dates with other friends, and just hung out at her parents’ house playing cards. In 1977, Rick graduated high school at West Jefferson High school. That same year he and Deb became an official couple. On July 19, 1978, Rick married his high school sweetheart Debbie Franck at his parents’ house in Monteview.

Rick worked at Hunter’s Farm Supply where he delivered fertilizer to the farmers. In September 1981, Rick and Debbie purchased their home from Bud & Jan Summer’s and also welcomed their first child, Stanley Brian Caudle born September 14, 1981; they moved into their forever home a week after he was born. A couple years later, they welcomed a second son Jeffrey Ryan Caudle born on June 27, 1983.

Rick continued to work for Hunter’s Farm Supply until he took a mechanic and farm laborer job for Lynn Wood. He worked there for about 5 years then accepted a position at Tractor Sales, INC. as mechanic for Ellis Taylor. His love for farm machinery, cars, and trucks from his childhood made “twisting wrenches” easy and he made a good wage. He left Tractor Sales to work for his friend Keith Soderquist because he needed a good mechanic to keep his fleet of trucks on the road. Rick soon became a truck inspector for the State of Idaho, he drove hay truck to and from Twin Falls, and maintained all the equipment. During this time, he served as a volunteer EMT for the Mud Lake Ambulance. In 2000, he had an opportunity to purchase the land and the truck shop, and it became Rick’s Repair until three years ago when he sold out and retired.

Rick’s love for automobiles rubbed off on Debbie and together over their 45 years of marriage amassed a fleet of cars in their yard and garage(s), most of which are classic cars. Rick took care of the mechanical work and Debbie the chrome and detailing – creating a great team together. They loved going to car shows, meeting lots of people, and talking cars all day long. They enjoyed going golfing together on the weekends, road trips, camping at Birch Creek and Wolf Flats, and being with their kids every chance they could get. Rick enjoyed living in the Mud Lake/Terreton area as it has been his home for years. It is where his friends, brothers and families are, and the mountains and streams are close by.

Since retirement, Rick devoted his time working on getting his projects done, attending weekly lunches at the senior center, having dinner ready and waiting for Deb to come home from work. Helping his neighbors when in need, serving as a board member for the Mud Lake Sewer & Water, master mind starting and chairing the Mud Lake Museum Car show, an ordained minister and married seven couples in holy matrimony, and was everyone’s friend and “go-to guy.” He will be missed. He has touched so many lives and has adopted into the family many brothers’, sons’ and daughters’ and grandchildren from across the globe and nearby. He was fondly known as Hero; Dad; Papa Rick; Grandpa Rick; Pops; Potato Dad; Grandpa; Kookie; Ornerier than Me; Brother, and Opa. Rick was our father, our dad, our friend, our mentor, our rock, our hero.

Rick is survived by his wife, Debbie of Terreton; his son Brian (Victoria) Caudle of Sanford, N. Carolina; his son Jeff (Lauren) Caudle of Idaho Falls; two granddaughters Hope Pellitier and Amry Caudle; his brother Kevin (Glenna) Caudle of Terreton; his sister-in-law Cindy (Jon) Caudle; numerous nieces, nephews, and adopted family members. Rick is preceded in death by his parents Stan and Shirley, and brother Jon.

Per Rick’s wishes, he was cremated. He hated funerals as they were always sad, and instead wanted a party celebrating his life. His grave side and celebration of life will be on June 22, 2024 (details and times to come later). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Mud Lake VFW; Mud Lake Cemetery; Mud Lake Senior Citizen Center; or the Mud Lake Museum Car Show.