John Lamont Alder

 John Lamont Alder, 79, succumbed to cancer on Jan. 5, 2026, at what he called his “experimental farm” in Weiser, Idaho. 

 He was born in Weiser, Idaho on Sept. 14, 1946, to Lamont and Matilda Beck Alder who raised John, older sister Kathleen and younger brother Arnold on the family farm on Jonathan Road. It instilled his lifelong love for growing things.

 After graduating from Weiser High School, John attended Idaho State University where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in General Engineering. While at ISU, he met Maribeth Bunce and they married in 1968. Shortly after graduation, they moved to Pittsburgh, Penn., where John accepted his first engineering job for Westinghouse Electric and he attended graduate school at Carnegie Mellon University, receiving his Master of Mechanical Engineering degree. He was a Licensed Professional Engineer. 

 His children, sons Douglas and Daniel, were born in Pittsburgh.

 The family returned to Idaho in 1974, first to Idaho Falls and later to Pocatello, and John pursued a variety of engineering opportunities, working on everything from nuclear reactors to fertilizer plants and food processing equipment, as well as subdivision development and home building. Though he took pride in his professional achievements, he would most want to be remembered for his life beyond the desk.

 He kayaked from Canada to Alaska, climbed the Grand Teton and other mountains, survived a near-miss slide down Skillet Glacier on Mt. Moran, backpacked through wilderness in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, rafted and kayaked the Idaho rivers and others, backcountry skied and fly fished at the family cabin at Henrys Lake. Many of his adventures were accomplished with like-minded people whose friendship he treasured.

 At the heart of his final 15 years was the creation of his experimental farm in Weiser. He planted and nurtured more than 200 grapevines, 26 fruit trees, other fruits, vegetables and berries of all types. The acknowledgement of the local food bank managers on his frequent trips with a pick-up loaded with the results of his labor made him happy. He found joy in the land, the vines, and the people he quietly helped.

 Just weeks before his death, he hosted a wine tasting with a neighbor to decide which of the year’s wines were worth bottling, knowing he wouldn’t have time to bottle them all.

 He was the guy who loved his wife unconditionally, taught his sons all he thought was worth knowing and supported them through every bump in the road. 

 Over the years, he turned five rescue dogs into envied companions. 

 He is missed beyond measure by his wife Maribeth, sons Doug (McKenzie Young) and Dan (Melissa) Alder, sister Kathy (Frank) Padovano, special aunt Betty Adams, special cousin Steven (Kay) Lesh, sister-in-law Ileen Bunce-Russell, cousins, nieces and nephews, and stellar canine Tika. 

 No public services are planned, but if you knew him, you may find a bottle of his grape or apple juice, two-beer salsa, or his “Blue Tape” wine – named for the easy-to-clean bottles without sticky labels – on your doorstep. Raise a private toast. He’d like that.