Caden Max West

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Caden West, 27, of Pocatello, Idaho, died in an airplane accident on August 1, 2026. His brother Myles and his close friend Jaxson Homer were with him. Both survived.

He died doing the thing he loved. He was in the cockpit. He was exactly where he chose to be.

Caden packed a lot of living into twenty-seven years.

Eagle Scout.

A Spanish Speaking mission to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he taught a companion that making your bed isn't about the bed — it's about doing the mundane thing first, on time, every time. That companion made his bed every day for the rest of his mission.

Two years filming the Iditarod in Alaska with Greg Heister at forty below — no infrastructure, no sleep, no complaints. Those back country plane rides full of dogs, gear, and cameras set his sights for the sky.

A finance degree from BYU-Idaho, and a zest for studying the topics he loved – you always found Caden with a book. After trying out corporate finances, sales, and construction, he decided to pursue his dream of being a pilot.

One hundred and seventy hours logged. Flying was his calling, and he knew it early enough to turn down everything else. He was excited to get back to his connections and fly in Alaska. He chose the cockpit over a seat at his father's business table — business formation, equity, the whole thing — looked his dad in the eye and said, "My dream is to be a commercial pilot." That took more courage than saying yes. His dad told him: "Go for the skies. I'll help you live your dream."

Caden had a megawatt smile that arrived before he did, and an answer for nearly everything. He was curious about the world and good at most of it.

His brothers talked to him every single day. They were best friends. They didn't just love him — they wanted to be him. That is the highest compliment a brother can receive.

He was his mother's delight. She will forever miss the tin foil hat conversations about current events that took place at the kitchen bar.

He and his dad had their own language — flying, business, motorcycles, investing — a dialect no one else spoke.

Everyone who met Caden left better knowing him. Every room. Every person. Every conversation. Hundreds of people, and not one exception.

He was not perfect. He was perfect for the Wests. He never gave up and was in a great point in his life in the happiest we have ever seen him.

One week before the accident, his father asked him: "What do you know?" Caden said: "I know my mom and dad love me." Caden, you did everything right. The sky's the limit.

He knew. We are comforted by that. Caden is survived by his father, Dr. Jason West; his mother, Maxine Hanks West; and his brothers Carter (Samantha), Myles, Dalton, and Merrick.

He was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Dr. Henry West and Max S. Hanks — both of whom loved him, and both of whom were waiting for him.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 15, 2026, at 11:00 AM, at the Highland Stake Center, 2140 Satterfield Drive, Pocatello, Idaho 83201. A visitation will be held from 5:00 - 8:00 pm on Friday, August 14, 2026 and on Saturday morning starting at 9:30 am, both at the church. Burial will follow the service at Bennington Cemetery, Montpelier, ID.

The West family asks if you have any memories of an interaction, photo, video, or story to share please to his webpage, so we can collect them as we celebrate for years to come. Caden would want us to mention to you this webpage is private and your data is not sold nor in corporate hands.