Milton Ravsten

Milton Ole Ravsten, passed away peacefully at his home in Rexburg, ID on October 31st, 2023, at the age of 81.

Milton was born on March 18th, 1942 in Clarkston, UT to Bennie and Eunice Ravsten. As a boy, he loved fishing in the creek and raising chickens. He loved hunting and fishing, mapping and planning hikes, and building ballistics tables. He served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the West German mission from 1961 to 1963. He graduated from Utah State with a masters in Mechanical Engineering in 1968. He met and married his love, Rosemary Roberts, in Logan, UT on June 12th, 1968. After graduating, they moved to Ridgecrest, CA where they raised seven children. He served there as Bishop for 4 years and was a member of the Stake Presidency for 6 years. He had a great love for his family, church, country and family history.

During his career, Milton worked with the Navy and Raytheon on missile development programs. He was a member of the teams that created the Sidewinder, Tomahawk, Cruise, JDAM, RAM and Rolling Airframe missile systems for the United States military. He retired on January 3, 2004 after 30 plus years as a government employee with the Navy. They moved to Rexburg, ID a year later, where he worked hard to support his wife’s dream of running a quilt shop called the Quilted Heart. He enjoyed backpacking and hiking and went on yearly outings with his grandchildren. He also enjoyed learning new knots and collecting pocket knives, coin purses and whistles during his travels. He was heavily involved in scouting in both California and Idaho. In 2013, he earned his Wood Badge award; in 2014, he received the District Award of Merit for 40 years of scouting service.

Towards the end of his life, Milton was cared for and watched after by his daughter, Annamarie. He is survived by his wife, Rosemary, seven children, 20 grandchildren and one great-grandchild: Jennifer and James Kirkham, Brian and Lindsay Ravsten, Becky and Scott Wilde, Annamarie Ravsten, Johanna and Gabe DeOliveira, Jeff and Julie Ravsten, Melissa and Matthew Meng.