Rooney Family Tree

Beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, friend and "Papa" (grandfather), Walter James "Walt" Mings, of Idaho Falls, died of natural causes on June 11, 2016, in Boise, Idaho. His family surrounded and held him as he died. A lifelong lover of all things intellectual, including puzzles and palindromes, Walt left a palindrome behind when he departed this world at 12:21 p.m., 6-11- 16. Walt was 81 years old.

Walt was born in 1934 in Billings, Mont., the first of four children to Lydia and Walter Darcy Mings. Walt attended elementary and high school in Glasgow, Mont. He then received a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in chemical engineering from Carroll College in Helena, Mont., and the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. Walt was a lifelong Fighting Irish fan, having seen eight of their 11 National Football Championships. It was Walt's great hope to see his team win one more national championship. Walt's many fans have no doubt that he'll have the best view of all of us, from on high, when the Fighting Irish prevail again next January.

Walt earned his professional engineering certificate early in his career, and mid-career, he earned a Master of Business Administration from Idaho State University. He spent his career primarily in oil and nuclear engineering and management. He worked for Standard Oil, Westinghouse, EG&G and the U.S. Department of Energy in various locations, including Chicago, Ill., Casper, Wyo., and the Idaho National Laboratory in southeastern Idaho.

Walt married the love of his life, Patricia Ruth Sheehy, on Sept. 6, 1958, in Lansing, Ill. Early in their marriage, Walt served with the U.S. National Guard. Shortly after the birth of their first child, the young couple headed West, designed and built their own home and raised all three children. Dad, with Mom, provided all three kids with everything any kid could ask for: love, security, religious faith, excellent education, extravagant summer vacations ù including Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Grand Canyon, Spokane World's Fair, Lake Louise, Alaska ù to name a few! And who could forget the 1976 Bicentennial Cross-Country Family Greyhound Bus Trip?! Each year, we also visited relatives in Montana and Chicago. And sometimes, Dad would go out of his way to take us to experiences, such as Notre Dame football games in South Bend (or away ù once at the Air Force Academy); a Sade concert in Seattle, Wash.; the NCAA Basketball Championships, also in Seattle; the Napa Wine Train; Paul Simon in San Francisco; a Johnny Cash concert at the Idaho State Fair; and once even a road trip to Pocatello to eat at Idaho's first McDonald's fast food restaurant. (McDonald's was the subject of Dad's MBA thesis, while at the same time a Big Mac was his 8-year-old son's dearest desire.)

Dad's most beloved hobbies were playing cards (poker, cribbage and bridge û once winning regional World Bridge pairs championship), playing chess, fishing, traveling, playing the piano, listening to music, Notre Dame football, telling stories and playing practical jokes. Dad was renowned for his sense of humor and endless one-liners. As an example, he used to say that he was only ever wrong once ù and that was a time when he thought he was wrong, but it turned out he was right! Dad's favorite foods were oyster stew, cherry pie and Dairy Queen Blizzards.

Shortly before his death, Dad had the dubious distinction of going viral on the internet, thanks to his great affection for those Blizzards, and you can see that clip here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzrPPyKK0Tw.

Dad is survived by his wife of 58 years, Patricia Ruth Sheehy Mings; his children, Susan (Phileo McAlexander), Sandra (James Lamar) and Steve (Michelle); grandchildren, Justin, Morgan and Carley Mings, and Sophie, Brian and Sabrina Lamar; sisters, Ruth Ann Shacher (Ken known as "Skip") and Mary Lynn (George); and niece and nephew, Marty and Rachel Rahn.

He was predeceased by his father, Walter Darcy Mings; mother, Lydia Stricker Mings; brother, Robert ("Dutch") Mings; and niece, Darcy Lynn Schacher.

Services have been held in Boise.

The family would like to thank the staff at Willow Park Assisted Living in Boise for their incredible care and compassion for Walt, Pat and all the family.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Walt Mings' name to Carroll College of Helena, the University of Notre Dame or a . And/or, enjoy a DQ Blizzard! And Dad û we'll see you when we get there, "upstairs," with Touchdown Jesus! (www.uhnd.com/history/touchdown-jesus)

Condolences to the family can be made at www.aldenwaggoner.com.