Max Dee Rigby

LOGAN, UTAH: Max Dee Rigby, 86, of Logan, Utah and Bancroft, Idaho passed away Friday, October 12, 2012 at Logan Regional Hospital surrounded by loving family members.

Max was born August 6, 1926 in Newton, Utah to Moses William Rigby and Ivy Polly Nelson Rigby. As a young boy, the family moved to Logan where he attended school and graduated from Logan High School in 1944, having proudly received Rifle Team awards in the ROTC program.


He served in the military as a Merchant Marine in the US Coast Guard with tours of duty on multiple ships. He received an honorable discharge. He attended Sacramento State College, where he was enrolled in pre-med studies. In the fall of 1945, Max returned to Idaho to assume the responsibilities of managing the family farm after his father lost his hand in a farm machinery accident.

Max married Bonnie Jean Knowles of Bancroft, Idaho on July 28, 1950 in the Logan LDS Temple. They resided in Logan during the school year and spent their summer months on their farm in Bancroft, Idaho.

Max’s warm-hearted personality resonated with those who knew him. His positive attitude and uplifting laugh would brighten anyone’s day. If you had the privilege of meeting him, you remembered him. His generosity was unsurpassed. For nearly forty years, Max and Bonnie enjoyed attending their monthly supper club with many of their cherished friends. Above all, he was loyal to family, traveling to Bountiful, Utah, weekly for three years, to visit his hospitalized brother. Max loved the outdoors whether it was driving his tractors, combines, fishing from his Amphicar on the Blackfoot and Chesterfield reservoirs or just having fun riding his motorcycle. He loved traveling through Europe and cruising with friends. One of the most memorable highlights of his life was taking his children and grandchildren on cruises to Alaska and the Caribbean.

He is survived by his wife, Bonnie and their children, Sheri (John) Ruder of Palatine, Illinois. Margo (Anthony) Harper of Simi Valley, California, Bret (Annette) Rigby of Wellsville, Utah, Bart (Stephanie) Rigby of Logan, Utah, and Mark (Mizuho) Rigby of Carlsbad, California; 16 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren; and sister Beryl Whitesides of Boise, Idaho. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Woodrow and Don and by his sister, Reva Richardson and nephew, Ross Rigby.

He was a long-time active member of the Logan 1st Ward serving in the Sunday School Presidency, ward Executive Secretary position and home teacher to many.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 18, 2012 at the Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 E. Center Street, Logan, Utah, with former Bishop Gene Needham conducting. Family and friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday evening at the Allen-Hall Mortuary and 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday prior to the services. Interment will be in the Logan Cemetery.
Condolences may be extended to the family online at www.allenmortuaries.net .

The family would like to thank the staff at the Sunshine Terrace Rehabilitation Center, the healthcare givers at the Logan Regional Hospital and the Encompass Home Health for their compassionate care of their beloved Father, with a special thanks given to Shonna, Nathan and Mark.