Jones, Beth Renae

MALTA, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — Beth Renae Jones passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, at Minidoka Memorial Hospital in Rupert, Idaho, on February 19, 2025, at 97 years of age.

Beth was born to Ivan Leo Durfee and Mary Ann Cahoon on August 26, 1927, in Almo, Idaho. She was the seventh of ten children and grew up on the family ranch, raising and showing steers and lambs. She attended Almo Grade School and graduated from Raft River High School in 1945. She married Harold Aaron Jones on September 21, 1946, in Burley, Idaho. Together, they had five children: Harold DeVon (Donnie) Jones, Ray Ivan Jones, Geraldine (Jerry) Jones, Gary Ross (Ponch) Jones, and Diane (Annie) Bennett. During Beth and Harold’s first years together, they had an adventure moving around and working at various ranches until Beth became homesick and wanted to return to her roots. Upon returning, they worked on a ranch between Bridge and Naf until they could purchase their patch of paradise in Naf, Idaho. In their later years, they moved to Malta after retiring and selling the ranch.

Beth was a hard worker, and it took a lot of energy and endurance to keep up with her pace and work alongside her. She enjoyed being outdoors, gardening, and fishing. Her flower gardens and yard were works of art, and she grew enough food to feed a few families. She once said, “I just like to grow things!” She spent most of her years helping on the ranch, raising kids, cooking, preserving food, and doing the work that nobody else wanted to do. Indoors, she was an incredible artist and, in her later years, spent quite a bit of time developing her talent for painting. Many of her paintings are treasured by her family, and she has passed this talent on to some of them. She was also skilled at sewing, crocheting, and quilting. One of her many loves was refurbishing old dolls and making them new again.

Beth spent 50 years reading and reporting the weather for the National Weather Service. She was also an avid fan of Pinochle and played the game competitively up to the very end! She was well known for her stubborn and determined nature, which served her well through the many difficult things that were required of her.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father, seven of her siblings, her husband, her three sons, and two grandchildren.

She has left behind two siblings, Ila Fae Webb, and Kurt Durfee; two daughters, Jerry and Annie; three daughters-in-law, Sheryl, Karen, and Roberta; 12 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren, 16 great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins who all love her dearly and will greatly miss her influence in their lives.

Beth requested that no funeral services be held.

A celebration of her life will be enjoyed by her family at a later date.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Rasmussen-Wilson Funeral Home of Burley.