Dolph Hitesman

Dolph Hitesman passed away peacefully Sunday morning, November 25th, with his wife and daughter holding his hand.

Dolph Hitesman was born January 20, 1931 in Jerome, Idaho to Dolph Hitesman, Sr and Audrey Patty Hitesman, the oldest of 4 children 2 boys and 2 girls. His family moved to King Hill, Idaho when he was in the 2nd grade.

In his sophomore year of High School, he and a friend hitchhiked to Northern Idaho to fight blister-rust in the forest. Due to rain they failed to get work so they hitchhiked back home. In his Jr year he and a friend working on the Anderson Dam construction for the summer lived at the construction site. At dinner time he and his friends would wait to eat last since they were able to eat all the desserts. Dad loved dessert. In his Sr Year he worked after school from 4 pm to midnight at the Bliss Dam near Bliss, Idaho. His job was to walk out at night on a thin plank over the huge canyon screwing in new light bulbs so they could see. He played 6-man football with a leather helmet, also played basketball and baseball.

When he was a Jr Eileen came to school and became his sisters best friend. By his Sr year he and Eileen were sweethearts. He married her August 21, 1950 and ever after, even at the age of 87 and 68 years of marriage, he would often say she was the prettiest girl in the room.

After graduating, he started working at the Post Office and held every position, mail carrier, rural mail carrier, clerk and supervisor in Mountain Home. In 1968, he moved to Glenns Ferry and retired there as a Postmaster after 37 years at the Post Office.

Dolph was active in City affairs and in his Church of the Latter-Day Saints (LDS). He was a Boy Scout leader, a Seminary teacher for 4 years and worked in the Temple for 4 years. He would drive 140 miles round trip once a week for 4 years serving the Lord. He was an active member of the Parkinson’s Support Group in Meridian. Most of all Dolph loved his family of 4 adopted children, 15 grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren. He hiked, camped and vacationed with all of them sometimes taking 7 grandchildren.

He and his family hunted, hiked and camped. The kids were fond of the back-mountain hikes they would take to Redfish lake, hiking to the top lakes. The family celebrated many family reunions over the years at Redfish lake making good memories. 4 of the grandchildren lived off and on with the family and the others would sleep over weekends adding to the chaos. After retiring, he and Eileen traveled thru Mexico, Canada, all the lower states (Alaska with 2 grandchildren) England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Spain. They traveled often with Eileen’s 2 sisters and they referred to themselves as his 3 wives.

Dolph’s hobbies included ventriloquism as well as hunting, fishing, camping, traveling and making canes. Many of these canes were given to his friends at the Meridian Senior Center.

Dolph is survived by his wife Eileen, his 2 sons Mark Hitesman of Kuna and Chris Hitesman of Glenns Ferry, and his daughter Karen Fitch of Boise, 13 grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren, 2 sisters, Juanita Betty and Emily Sue Southwick, both of Glenns Ferry, a stepbrother Bill Allred of Jerome and a stepsister Kathy Huber of Glenns Ferry. He was preceded in death by his parents, 2 brothers, Stanley and Joe, his daughter Rachael Walsh, his granddaughter Melissa and his grandson David. He will be remembered as an honorable man, a loving husband and a giving, caring father and grandfather, and a great-grandfather.

A celebration of Life will be held at the (Center at the Park) Senior Citizens Center in Kleiner Park, 1920 N Records Ave Meridian Idaho December 6th, 2019 at 3 p.m. Interment will be held at a later date at Glenns Rest Cemetery Glenns Ferry, Idaho.