Joseph (Joe) Henry Beckius Wilson, 73, of Idaho Falls, passed away on December 30, 2022, at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.

Joe was born in Beaumont. Texas, on August 8, 1949, the youngest son of Anna Beckius Wilson and Thomas Elton Wilson, Sr., They were later divorced, and Anna remarried Harley Richards of Milton-Freewater, Oregon, in 1954. Joe grew up on the family property outside of Milton-Freewater and attended country schools. The small schools and rural setting provided Joe with close-knit neighbors and classmates, many of them cousins from his extended family, who were friends for life.

Joe is a 1967 Mac-Hi graduate. While in school, he was very involved in many school activities, he excelled as manager of the football team and was chosen as a Boys' State representative, a coveted distinction. Joe was social and could often be found by following his distinctive laugh or giving the punchline for a "punny" joke.

Joe attended Eastern Oregon University in LaGrande, Oregon, earning his bachelor's degree in Accounting and Education; while at EOU, was involved in Teachers of America. Two M-F classmates attended EOU with Joe, often sharing meals and playing cards.

He continued his education at Washington State and Utah State Universities, earning his master's in Science and Business Information Systems. Following his academic tenure, Joe taught business and accounting in Astoria, Oregon, and was a Professor of Business at several universities in the Stockton, California, area, for some years.

Joe returned to eastern Oregon and worked for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation – but he ultimately found fulfillment in the service of others. He served as a long-time volunteer in the Walla Walla court system as a CASA (court advocate for children) and with Walla Walla Search and Rescue.

Most recently, Joe worked at Yellowstone National Park during the tourist season and lived in the off-season in Idaho, Falls, Idaho.

Joe was a devout Roman Catholic and an active member of the Pope St. John Paul II Catholic community. Joe was a Fourth-Degree member of the Idaho Falls Knights of Columbus council, former council Deputy Grand Knight, and an active participant in various Knights' service activities.

Joe will be remembered as big-hearted, empathetic, a helper, and a family genealogical expert. He was a master of family connections, locations, and dates. He was faithful to his older relatives, in touch by phone, email, or text, or frequent visits if the family lived nearby.

Joe was predeceased by his mother, Anna; stepfather, Harley; older brother, Thomas Beckius Wilson Jr.; and father, Thomas Wilson Sr.

Joe is survived by many friends, lifelong and new, and by a host of Beckius Wilson and Richards' cousins, who will miss him, greatly.

Services will be at a later date. Cremation is under the care of Coltrin Mortuary, 2100 First Street, Idaho Falls.