Mr. R. James Meikle

Stephen Mack Meikle Jr., 86, passed away January 28, 2010, peacefully at home with family around him. He was born March 22, 1923, in Victor, Idaho, to Stephen Mack Meikle Sr. and Vashti Larkin Price Meikle.
The family moved to Driggs when Steve was in the fourth grade. As a young boy of 12, he was severely burned on over 40 percent of his body but survived the odds to do and to succeed in most anything he wanted. During high school, he was the punter for the football team, drum major for four years and played the sax and oboe, graduating with the Class of 1941 from Teton High School.
After spending one year at the University of Idaho in Moscow studying mechanical engineering, electronics and business, he joined the Army Air Corps in December 1943 and became a pilot of great skill. He served as a flight instructor during World War II in South Carolina, teaching others to fly. He was honorably discharged in 1945 as a captain with over 3,000 flying hours. His love for flying continued throughout his life and he taught others to fly.
He married Donna Maxine Peacock in 1944. Their marriage was solemnized in 1946 in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. They were blessed with four children, Rick, Jane and twins, Jack and Jill. Donna passed away in 1963.
After the war, Steve returned to Driggs to become a banker at the Bank of Teton Valley, working with his father. In 1948, Steve Sr. opened a new bank, Idaho Bank of Commerce, in Rexburg and Steve Jr. moved to Rexburg to run it.
In 1959, Steve became Executive Vice President of the Bank of Commerce in Idaho Falls and later, President. After the death of his father, he returned to the Idaho Bank of Commerce and became President of that bank in 1967.
He married Janice Sharp Gray in 1964. Their marriage was solemnized in 1965 in the Idaho Falls Temple. This marriage added two more children, Jamie and Jeff, to the family. They were then blessed with three more children, twins, Robert and Nancy; and Jana. They later divorced. This completed their family of nine children.
In 1972, after several years of prosperous growth, the bank opened an office in Idaho Falls which required the name to be changed to Valley Bank. The bank moved its headquarters to Idaho Falls in 1978. Steve enjoyed the challenge of running the bank with his brother, Jim. His was widely respected in banking circles around the country serving as President of the Idaho Bankers Association, President of the Western Independent Bankers Association and Chairman of the Idaho PERSI Board. He led the first People to People Group for Bankers into China in 1981. The bank was sold to KeyBank in 1992 and Steve retired, which allowed him to pursue his hobbies and spend time with his family.
He married Julie Webster in 2001 and later divorced.
He was a member and high priest of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held many callings including Bishop of the Rexburg 11th Ward.
He enjoyed golfing, flying his plane, spending time at the cabin on I.P. Bills Island in Island Park, riding his Gold Wing motorcycle and traveling in his motor home. Most of all, he loved spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, telling stories and offering valuable advice.