Joseph L. Holbrook, 91, passed away of natural causes on December 30, 2011, in Draper, Utah. Born in the family home on the Town site of Chesterfield, Idaho, on May 2, 1920, he was the first born of Lafayette Sr. and Annaleas Halversen Holbrook.

Joe attended Primary School in Chesterfield and graduated from North Gem High School in 1938. He was active in sports and became an accomplished fast-pitch softball pitcher as a young adult.

In 1941, Joe entered the California LDS Mission and served in the Arizona Section. He was called home when his father was killed in an automobile accident. Joe assumed his father's role as head of the family and ran the farming / cattle operation with Lafe Jr's help until Lafe entered the service.

Joe married Beth Higginson Hansen (deceased 1995) on April 3, 1947 in the Salt Lake Temple. In addition to farming, Joe and Beth owned and operated the Chesterfield store, renamed Holbrook Mercantile, from Jan. 1, 1948, to July, 1955. They had one son, Joe (Eldene) of Sandy, UT, three grandchildren--Cannon (Kristen) of Provo, UT; Holli (Mike) Todd of Carmichael, CA, Brandon (Natalie) of New York City, NY-- and seven great-grandchildren.

Joe drove phosphate hauling trucks for the J.R. Simplot phosphate mine in Conda from May 1965 to June 1985. Joe and Beth moved to Soda Springs in 1971. Joe raised pure-bred Suffolk sheep and represented the states of Idaho and Montana on the board of the American Suffolk Sheep Society for 15 years and was president for two years.

After retiring, Joe loved fishing with his brothers in Chesterfield Reservoir, Lewiston, and Alaska. After Beth passed, he spent winters with his son and wife in Utah and California.

Joe's siblings Alene Sorensen, Lafe Jr. and Bud preceded him in passing. He is survived by his brother Donald Pat (Phoenix, AZ), and sisters, Trieste Goodwill (Provo, UT), Annabell Rousselot (Okay, OK) and Jacquelyn (Dale) Schroeder of Sandy, UT.

Joe had been living with his son and enjoying the company of his family--especially his loving sisters--when he passed peacefully from natural causes on December 30, 2011.

Services will be held on Thursday, January 5, 2012 at Noon at the Chesterfield LDS Ward Chapel in Chesterfield, Idaho. The family will visit with friends on Wednesday evening from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Sims Funeral Home in Soda Springs and on Thursday morning from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Church prior to services. Burial will be in the Chesterfield Cemetery.