Asa Junior Drake

Asa Junior Drake, 92, passed away peacefully on August 23, 2026 in Chubbuck, ID. Born July 22nd, 1934 in Idaho Falls, ID to Asa Merritt Beecher and Gertrude Olga Ripplinger, he was raised on his family’s farm of 5 generations in the Cedron area of Teton Valley. He attended Ricks College in Rexburg, ID; BYU in Provo, UT; and The University of Utah, where he studied animal husbandry and agronomy. During these years, Asa played in the dance orchestra at Ricks College, varsity band at BYU Provo, and was a member of the BYU A Capella Choir.

Asa served an LDS mission in the Northern States Mission. Soon after, courted and married JoAnn Phillips in 1958 in the Idaho Falls Temple. Asa continued with his education in Utah, served in Tacoma, WA with the Army National Guard, then settled into Teton valley to raise 2 daughters and two sons and serve in the church and community. After retirement, Asa and JoAnn served a mission in Edmonton Alberta, Canada and in the Summer of 2005, moved to Ammon, Idaho. A few years after JoAnn’s death in 2018, Asa settled in Chubbuck, ID.

Asa wore many hats during his life: Farmer, dairyman, Bishop, county commissioner, county clerk, temple worker, counselor in the LDS Mission Presidency, a mission serving at the Idaho Temple Information Center, a member of the Army National Guard, loving husband and father. Music played an essential part of Asa’s life. He volunteered often to play the trumpet for military burials and singing around a campfire or for a crowd which was a joy to him. Asa was a dedicated lifelong scouter, and enjoyed being outdoors, theater and music, and serving and befriending others. He was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Faith and family were the most important things to him throughout his life.

He is survived by sisters, Sandra and DeAnn; children Janet, Phillip, Susan, and Steven, 15 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by JoAnn, his wife of 60 years; parents Asa and Gertrude; sisters Colleen, Louise and brother Garl; grandson Ben and great-granddaughter Emma.

A heartfelt thank you to the staff at Brookdale Chubbuck and Heritage Home Health and Hospice who honored and cared so lovingly for Asa during his residency and his final days.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, August 29, 2026 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4010 Hawthorne Road, Pocatello, ID. A viewing will be held prior beginning at 10:00 am. Burial will follow the service at the Cedron Cemetery in Victor, Idaho.

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