More detail on this person: Bob Sterling Falen, 70, of Soda Springs, passed into eternity on
August 16, 2015. Bob was born on June 17, 1945 in Ontario, Oregon to Kenneth M. Falen and Barbara
Jean Draper Falen. The family moved to Hailey, ID in 1946.
After relocating to Pocatello in 1955, Bob attended Greenacres Elementary and Franklin Jr. High. He
graduated from Boise High School after another family move. Bob then returned to Pocatello to attend
Idaho State University, graduating in 1969. Bob married Janice K. Ferguson in 1966 and they had two
children, a daughter, Heidi Kay and a son, Jansen Wesley. Bob and Janice were later divorced.
Bob and Mary Evalyn Crowley were married in 1987 while Bob was serving in the Army at Fort Rucker,
Alabama.
Bob was a career military officer. He began his military service with the ISU ROTC. He served in
Vietnam as a helicopter gunship pilot flying the armed version of the Huey (uh-1c) logging over 800
hours of combat mission flight time. He completed his 1 year combat tour in May of 1971, returning
to the U.S. to be assigned to the 1st infantry division. Later that year he began a series of
transitions to become qualified in new aircraft, which over the next 20 years included: the Oh-58
Kiowa, Oh-6 Cayuse, Ah-1 Cobra, and the Ah-64 Apache. Bob also held a commercial fixed wing pilot
license.
At the time of his military retirement in 1991, he had accumulated approximately 10,000 hours of
flight time. Bob had a second career working for several aircraft manufacturers, including the
Lancair Corp., Columbia Aircraft Co., and the Cessna Aircraft Company. He decided in 2008 to
"actually retire" and he and Mary returned home to Idaho.
He continued his dedication to his fellow warriors by serving as Commander of the Soda
SpringsVeterans Honor Guard for several years.
An active person with many interests, Bob was a seasoned outdoorsman and marksman, accomplished
USPSA/IPSC and cowboy action shooter, certified firearms instructor, scuba diver, alpine skier,
writer, and wood and leatherwork craftsman.
Bob is survived by his wife, Mary of Soda Springs, ID; daughter, Heidi (Michael) Falck of Federal
Way, WA; son, Jansen (Leslie) Falen of Kingston, WA; stepdaughters, Dawn (Ron) Young of Warner
Robbins, GA, and Sherry Griggs of Hartsville, SC.
He is also survived by 12 grandchildren, Adam (Chalene) Holze, Mckenna Pangan, Brandy Pangan,
Bailey Pangan, Nic Falck, Mason Falen, Elli Falen, Ashley (Austin) Tobiasz-Harris, Garrett (Kelli)
Hoard, Emily Young, Ryan Young and Breanna Griggs; 5 great-grandsons, Silas Holze, Levi Holze,
Gatlin Harris, Jaren Hoard, Jax Hoard; and one great-granddaughter, Rosalie Salinas-Lucci;
half-sisters, Rosie Nicholson of Carrolton, TX, Kendra Falen and Shelly Mccoy of Boise, ID. Bob was
preceded in death by his parents, half-sister, Mary Jo Higbee, and stepson, Bradley Dorriety who
passed away in 2006.
The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the doctors, nurses and staff of
Caribou Memorial Hospital in Soda Springs, ID, the doctors and staff of Portneuf Cancer Center in
Pocatello, ID and to Alliance Hospice for the care and compassion they extended to Bob and the
family during this difficult time.
Visitation with the family will be held on Friday, August 21, 2015 from 6-8 pm at Colonial Funeral
Home, 2005 S. 4th Ave. Pocatello, Idaho 83201, 208-233-1500. Graveside services will take place on
Saturday, August 22, 2015 at 1 pm at the Bellevue Idaho Cemetery in Bellevue, Idaho with full
Military Honors.
Condolences can be made to the family online at www.colonial-funeralhome.com
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 08/31/2024
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