Rulon Schara, 80

Rulon Schara, 80, passed away Aug. 6, 2022, in Rigby, Idaho. His funeral service will be held on Saturday, Aug. 13, at 2 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2211 St. Charles Street, Fort Benton, Montana, with burial to follow at Riverside Cemetery.

Rulon Schara was born in Rose, Idaho, (near Blackfoot) on Oct. 15, 1941, on his grandparents’ farm. His father, Reuben Schara (also known as Buck) and his mother, Lucille Catharine Mitchell Schara, had a 2-year-old son, Richard, at the time, and were blessed with a little daughter, Sherma, seven years later. Rulon loved his big brother and especially his little sister.

The family relocated from time to time during his childhood and during his early school years, but Rulon was always a good student. All his life he loved to read and was a whiz at math, which he did without pencil and paper, in his head. It always amazed people. He was a good friend to the libraries in all the towns he lived in. He spent quite a bit of time in Pocatello, Idaho, and had lots of fun memories there. When he was a senior in high school his family moved to Pingree, Idaho, and he attended Snake River High School. He graduated from there in 1960 and attended Idaho State College.

In June 1962 he married his high school sweetheart, Cherlene Hill. They celebrated their 60th anniversary this summer. They are the parents of six children. Rulon loved his family, and his four living children and grandchildren express tender moments of time spent with him. He especially enjoyed the babies and was thrilled with two new little great-grandchildren born this summer. When he talked about his plans for future hunting, fishing and traveling, they always included plans with the children.

It was a shocking surprise when Rulon passed away on Aug. 6, 2022, at home in his bed. He had heart surgery, but it went well, and everything looked promising. He was making plans for fishing, hunting, traveling and spending time with Sherma and Dean (his sister and her husband) this summer.

Rulon was always recognized to be ambitious and hard working. He could work hard and long days and get much accomplished no matter what he was doing. He loved farming and always wanted to be a farmer. He loved big machinery and equipment of all kinds, especially trucks, and had from the time he was small on his grandpa’s farm. He was extraordinary in his ability to keep them in good repair and operating smoothly. He couldn’t wait to buy his own first truck. He spent most of his life and made his living owning trucks and driving many miles over the highways and roads hauling everything including heavy equipment, lumber, fruit, building supplies and everything else. He always was willing to help other drivers or equipment operators to repair whatever was needed. He was well liked and never worked for anyone who wouldn’t have gladly hired him again. Whenever Rulon did something, it was well done. In fact, he drove over four and a half million miles in his life accident and citation free. He retired several years ago and spent the rest of his life reminiscing and telling trucking tales to anyone who would listen.

Rulon also loved animals and could make friends with them always. He just had a sense of what any animal needed, and his animals got good care. They were always fed first and doctored whenever needed. He milked cows and talked to them like they were people.

He loved music, especially country music, and was involved in playing it or listening to it from the time he was little. He played several instruments, his favorite being a guitar and a dobro. The whole family played music together for fun jam sessions and family time.

Rulon was smart and friendly. He was strong physically and spiritually. He had faith and believed in prayer. He would bare his soul in his prayers and his good heart opened in his testimonies of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There is no doubt he is finding great satisfaction in moving on to where so many people he loved have gone ahead.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents, brother, daughter, son-in-law and infant son, and many, many friends.

Rulon is survived by his loving wife; sons, Layne Schara of Fort Benton, Joel Schara of Hamilton, and Park (Shawna) Schara of Bigfork; daughter, Jill McElligott, of Rigby; as well as 23 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He accomplished in his life much of what really makes people count and will be remembered by many.