Jed Eldon Wilson was born May 4, 1930, in Salmon, Lemhi County, Idaho, to William M. and Adele Kingsbury Wilson. He passed away March 5, 2004, in Peoria, Maricopa County, Arizona.
He attended schools in Gibbonsville, Challis, and Salmon, ID, and in Missoula, MT. Because his father was an outfitter and guide and ranched in the backcountry of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, Jed often attended one-room schools.
Jed graduated from Salmon High School in 1949, then attended Ricks College, in Rexburg, ID. Jed married his high school sweetheart, Donna Lee, in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple May 16, 1950. They are the parents of five children.
In his earliest years, Jed began collecting and trading. He loved hunting arrowheads; he developed a passion for collecting old guns and Indian artifacts. He not only collected guns, artifacts, and antiques, Jed collected stories, histories, and friends - many gained by listening to old timers, those who could tell him of days gone by.
He loved the Old West. He loved family history. He enjoyed retelling stories of his ancestors and had great appreciation for his heritage. He preserved old journals, boxes of photos, many heirlooms, and the stories behind them. He loved the Native Americans and knew much about their old ways. Many people assumed Jed was part Indian. He never corrected them.
Moose Creek Estates - In Memory of Jed Wilson 1930-2004
His knowledge of history was a resource often used by others. Through the years people would visit him to listen to his stories and see his remarkable collection.
Historians in Washington working on a study of Lewis and Clark spent hours interviewing Jed, reading histories he had compiled, studying photos he had taken, and looking at collected artifacts for background on an historical work on the explorers. Shortly before Jed became ill this past winter, historians from Boise sought him out for an article being published on Sacajawea and the Lemhi Indians. His knowledge, artifacts, and information were vital to their work.
He was a talented photographer and never went anywhere without his camera.
Jed ranched for many years near Salmon, ID and Drummond, MT. He worked as Chief of Police and Deputy Sheriff in Salmon, and worked as a guard and photographer at Morton-Thiokol, in Brigham City, UT.
Jed studied deeply, remembered details, and was very organized. He enjoyed going to estate sales, flea markets, gun shows, and visiting with friends. He followed politics closely. Jed loved to go into the desert and up into the mountains. He had a great sense of humor and deep sensitivity. Jed was forever in pursuit of the good deal.
He loved his family. He was proud of their accomplishments and appreciated their love for him. Jed had great faith in God.
He was a life member of the NRA. He was a high priest in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After his retirement, he and Donna maintained homes in Hyrum, UT and Sun City, AZ.
Preceding him in death was a son, Philip William Wilson, his parents, Bill and Adele Wilson, and a brother, Robert Owen Wilson.
He is survived by his wife of almost 54 years, Donna, as well his children Robert Jed (Elizabeth) Wilson, Spicewood, TX; Teri (Michael) Dinnell, St. Ignatius, MT; Sandra (Kent) Forsey, Peoria, AZ.; and David Lee (Teresa) Wilson, Ogden, UT. Twenty-five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren also survive him. A sister, Elaine Parke, Drummond, MT., and a brother Don (Alice) Wilson.
Jed Wilson
Jed Wilson & Fanny Silver
(adopted Shoshone mother)
Donna Wilson
Jed Wilson at His Desk
Dedication Stone
at
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