John Bevan

John Lynn Bevan (Lynn) was born September 25, 1935 to James Clifton Bevan and Agnes Stewart Bevan. He passed away peacefully November 21, 2023 in the hospital surrounded by his loved ones.

Lynn was born in Driggs, Idaho in a maternity home. He was welcomed home by his big sister Marjorie Joy. His family faced many hardships as they navigated the great depression and then World War II rations. Lynn would tell stories of begging his mom to make candy. She would have to save up many weeks worth of rations to have enough to make him some candy. Lynn always had a sweet tooth. Growing up, World War II was a part of everyday life even in far away Tetonia, Idaho. Lynn’s mother hung a huge map of the world on one wall of their home. She would listen to the news and track the movement of the war with pins in her map. Even though

Lynn grew up seeing the world map and knowing of the many places there are in the world, he never traveled much. There was always work to be done. Cows and sheep to feed. Hay to put up for winter. Fences to build and then mend. Irrigation water to move around. Supplies to be acquired. Sheep and geese to fence up before night.

Lynn acquired his first flock of geese when he was 7 years old. He kept and raised a flock for 75 years. They were another chore to do and something to worry about, but Lynn loved them and would go out every evening to call his geese home so he could put them in a pen at night to keep them from the coyotes.

Lynn went to school till 9th grade. His dad told him he would give him some property if he would quit school and help work the ranch. His dad deeded him 40 acres and they became partners running sheep on the mountain near leigh canyon, cattle in the valley, and hay in the meadows. Lynn was happy living and working with his parents. After his parents passed away he continued working the ranch alone. His nephews would come and help him some in the summertime. Lynn lived and ranched in Teton Valley Idaho his whole life. He was the last rancher in the valley to put up his hay using a hay slide also known as a beaver slide.

Lynn met Wilma Waring through a neighbor. Wilma was living in Idaho Falls at the time so they wrote letters from December of 1972 to July of 1974. Once in a while they would meet in Idaho Falls and have a meal together. In the Spring of 1974 Lynn took Wilma for a drive up Horseshoe Canyon where he proposed. They were married July 17, 1974 in the Idaho Falls Temple. A little over two years into their marriage they welcomed home their first child, John. Next they welcomed a daughter Melissa then two more sons, Jared then Lane. They did everything together, got parts, lambed the ewes, calved the cows, fed the animals, herded the geese, and put up hay. When they had to go for supplies they were very creative to get all six of them in

vehicles meant for three people.

Lynn taught his kids how to work. On a ranch things need done, even if you don’t feel like it, or the weather isn’t great. He also taught them how to fish and trap. He loved guns. He loved reading about them, learning about them, and reloading for them. Fishing, trapping, and shooting were the three hobbies Lynn enjoyed the most. Lynn lived a quiet unassuming life, but left a legacy of ranching, working, fishing, shooting and trapping. He loved seeing pictures of his

grandkids’ hunting, fishing and trapping exploits.

Lynn is survived by his wife of 49 years Wilma Waring Bevan. His children John (Amanda), Melissa, Jared, and Lane Bevan all of Tetonia, Idaho. His five grandchildren: Jenna, Myla, Zeth, Martin, and Hazel Bevan. His sister Marjorie Baxter.

He is preceded in death by his parents James Clifton and Agnes Stewart