Our beloved father and grandpa, Luis Alastra, went to rest in Heaven on August 14, 2012 at the age of 95 and will be forever missed. Luis was born on April 11, 1917, in Ogden, Utah to Santiago and Francisca Alastra. He was the second of three children, raised in Hazelton, Idaho along the edge of the Snake River Canyon. Luis was a sheepherder at heart, at times herding upwards of 4,000 head of sheep to pasture--living in traditional sheep camps during his youth or spending many sleepless nights protecting the family herds from the threat of coyotes. In 1951 he married the love of his life, Essie Turnipseed. They settled in Hazelton, Idaho where they started their family, farming his parent's farm as well as his own farm until the 1970's. He then retired from sheep ranching and farming, beginning his career as a crop adjustor for the Federal Crop Insurance. He spent months at a time in Nebraska--an experience he loved to talk your ear off about. He also served on the Jerome County Highway District as well as was sitting mayor of Hazelton for a term. He retired from Federal Crop Insurance in the 1980's, but couldn't actually retire. He continued his employment by driving school bus for Valley School District and later became the official bus driver of the Eden Senior Citizen's bus--a position he absolutely loved.
Shortly after the death of his wife, he moved to Colorado to live with his daughter and her family. He was a welcomed joy to their family and his favorite activity was split between attending grandchildren's sporting events, playing with the family's Westie terrier, visiting with his friend Mary, and spending time with his dear niece, Melinda Pride. You never started a conversation with him unless you had at least 2 hours to listen--he'd talk your ear off telling you story after story about his days in the sheep camps, time spent in Nebraska, or the winter of '48-'49.
Luis is survived by his three daughters: Janelle Severson-Denver, Colorado; Stephanie (Jerry) Whittle- Portland, Oregon; and Valerie (Matt) Dinkel- Twin Falls, Idaho; Grandchildren Jim (Christy) Hall; Bryan Hall; Craig (Tiffany) Hall; Jennifer, Elizabeth, Jacob, Josh, Becca, Katie Whittle, Matthew Ross, David and Austin Severson, and great-grandchildren Alyson and Hailie Hall and Tyson and Lyla Hall. He was preceded in death by his wife of 40 years, his parents, one brother (Jim Alastra), and a grandson, Michael Ross.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, August 22, 2012 at 11:00am at White Mortuary “Chapel by the Park” and are under the direction of Lance Cox and staff. Viewing will be held from 10:00am until service time. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park in Twin Falls, Idaho.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18