Arkoosh, Bill

GOODING, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) —John William “Bill” Arkoosh, age 87, a resident of Gooding, passed away on Friday, July 28th, 2023.

The son of John Arkoosh and Cleo Faulkner, Bill was born on March 30th, 1936 in Wendell, Idaho. Growing up, he was close with his grandparents, Granville and Anna Faulkner. He learned work ethic from an early age–milking cows, trailing cattle and sheep, hauling hay, and working on the Arkoosh ranch. After graduating from Gooding High School, he attended college at Gonzaga in Spokane, Washington. It was there that his Catholic faith became very important to him and he gained an interest in philosophy and theology.

In 1958, Bill graduated with a degree in Business Administration and he returned home. In the summer of 1962, he met Karen Byard of Shoshone; shortly after, he proposed on Galena Summit, overlooking Stanley Basin, and they were married in November of 1962. They settled on their ranch near Tunupa; their marriage brought them four children – Andrea, John, Michelle, and Susanne.

During this time of raising children and growing a family, Bill also began working closely with his mother, Cleo, in managing her business, the now historic Lincoln Inn. Bill was full of innovative ideas for the restaurant–including abundant buffet lines and eventful nightlife, he even brought one of the first discos to the Magic Valley. He enjoyed bringing his family into the fold, as well: Andrea, Michelle, and Susanne learned how to waitress, cook, and cashier, while Karen lent her expertise to the decor and event planning. He spent nearly 30 years managing the restaurant before the family sold it in 1999; Bill always felt blessed by the friendships he built over the years at the Lincoln Inn.

His lifelong interest in the latest technology gave him the foresight to invest, design, and construct hydroelectric power plants, the first in 1985 and the second 2015, which was built when he was 79 years old. Bill was intrigued by the “new”; for example, he bought one of the first Apple computers and took an early interest in organic farming. He wasn’t intimidated by risk or the unknown, he welcomed the future and the knowledge it brought. His mind was constantly occupied with new ideas–from the latest supplement research, to no-nonsense business strategies, to the newest and handiest Leatherman’s on the market, and to keeping up with current events–he never stopped wanting to learn more about the world he was a part of and how to make his contribution to it meaningful.

All his life, Bill worked hard to grow his farm and ranch. He took great pride in running Tunupa Cattle alongside his son, John, and eventually his grandsons – Jake, Joe, and Ben. Being able to build the business with his son filled his cup; he often spoke of how capable and talented both John and the boys were. He was stubborn and he was honest; his grit and determination sometimes led to sticky situations, such as chasing bulls into pond water nearly up to his saddle horn. The ranch was his daily routine–attending to business decisions, hauling cattle, running errands, and getting parts. In later years, he became the designated “pickup driver” so that the crew never had to ride their horses back to the trailer, he could always be counted on to give them a lift. He was at that ranch nearly every day up until the last days of his life.

Bill was first and foremost a family-man. He and Karen celebrated 60 years of marriage last November. His joy–his greatest treasure–was his family. He invested in the lives of his children and grandchildren, never missing any of their life events; from major milestones to the smallest of achievements, he was there with a beaming smile on his face. His constant thought was of others, especially those who were closest to him.

During his final days, he spoke of memories from his childhood, of his friends’ and family’s well-being, of his ranch, and of his faith. His life was driven by faith–faith in God, faith in his family, and faith in his way of life. He was trusting of others and able to see the good in people; he didn’t hold back but instead was open about what he believed and what he thought. He attended Mass every Sunday and looked to God for direction in all aspects of his life. When told how serious his situation was in the end, he simply sighed and said, “I’m okay either way.”

He is survived by his wife – Karen Arkoosh; his children - John (Carrie) Arkoosh, Michelle (Brent) Owen, and Susanne (Will) Bedke, his son-in-law Mickey Cockerham; his grandchildren - Jake (Savanna), Joe (Dusty), Ben, Drew, Laney, Braden, Aubryn, Falon, Kendra (Brandon), Gustie (Brandon), and Clancy; and his great-grandchildren - Brynli and Quincy.

He is preceded in death by his parents - John Arkoosh and Cleo Faulkner; and his daughter - Andrea Arkoosh-Cockerham.

A rosary will be held in his name on Thursday, August 3rd, 2023 at 6:00 PM at the St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church in Gooding.

A funeral mass will be held on Friday, August 4th at 1:00 PM, also at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church with Father Carlos officiating, with a reception to follow.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church, or to any charity.

Funeral services are under the care and direction of Demaray Funeral Service – Gooding Chapel.

Condolences, memories and photos can be shared with the family by following the obituary link at www.demarayfuneralservice.com