J. Weldon Beck, 99, the oldest member of a sesquicentennial pioneer wagon train in 1997, passed away Thursday, Sept. 24, in Burley, Idaho.

Mr. Beck, who was 86 when he embarked on the entire 101-day trip from Winter Quarters, Neb., to Salt Lake City, went on the trek because friends and family were going.

"He wasn't an outdoorsman at all," said Bruce Beck, fourth of five Beck children. "Some friends wanted him to go with them, and he just signed up and went. They built the wagon years ago for the Idaho centennial and just decided to use that one and go."

Mr. Beck was riding in a wagon that wrecked coming into the valley. Luckily he was told to get out and walk before the wagon and team tumbled down a hillside.

Mr. Beck, a member of the Star 2nd Ward in the Burley Idaho Stake and a farmer by trade, served as Cassia County commissioner for 36 years. He is credited for instigating the building of two hospitals there. He married his wife, Annie, June 21, 1939, in the Salt Lake Temple.

Because of his profession, Mr. Beck was a man of strong work ethic, and instilled it in each of his children. He was a Scoutmaster at age 18, and served as bishop in Burley.

"He was a strong community man, and he believed in taking care of our own," Bruce Beck said. "He was a very calm person, and loved to farm. He drove a beet truck for us well into his '80s. That was the kind of work ethic he had."

E-mail: nnewman@desnews.com