Selar Marcum

Selar Lorenzo Marcum of Tetonia, Idaho passed away peacefully at his daughter’s home in Ririe, Idaho on May 20, 2026. He was a beloved father, grandfather, and friend. He leaves an exceptional posterity and will be greatly missed. We know Dad is happy to be with his eternal companion.

Selar was born on March 15, 1932, in Driggs, Idaho, to Chester A. Marcum and Nettie Ruth Nethercott. He was the eleventh of twelve children. He spent most of his life in Teton Valley. He attended Driggs Elementary and the Honey Dale School near Badger Creek.

Selar graduated from Teton High School in 1950 then attended Rick’s College for two years before being drafted into the United States Army in December 1952. He came back home on furlough and married his college sweetheart, Elva Lucilla Layton in the Idaho Falls Temple on June 24, 1953. He took Elva with him to Fort Belvoir, Virginia where he was stationed until he was transferred overseas. Elva returned to Idaho where she lived with family until Selar was honorably discharged and returned to Idaho in August 1954. He then returned to Rick’s College and graduated with a Batchelor’s degree in 1956. It was the last class to graduate from Rick’s College while it was a four-year school. He started teaching 7th grade in August 1956, at Tetonia Elementary. He moved around teaching in various schools in the district, ending his career as Administrator in Victor. He was the assistant wrestling coach at Teton High for 26 years and retired after 34 years teaching in the Teton County School District.

Selar had a deep love for music. He loved to sing, direct choirs and bands and played in the band as a youth, mastering many instruments. Later in life, he even taught himself to play the piano. He had an exceptional ear for music and could instantly recognize when his own children made mistakes while practicing. From another room, he would call out, “It’s a B-flat!” or “It’s an F-sharp!”—and he was always right.

He loved teaching and often went the extra mile to make school enjoyable and engaging for the children in his classes and throughout the school. He organized special holiday assemblies, especially for Christmas and patriotic celebrations, and enjoyed directing plays, operettas, and school choirs.

Selar loved ham radio and used the call sign K7LLS, which he humorously said stood for K7 Little Lazy Stinker.

Selar spent many years camping and hiking with the young men. He also took some of his siblings and many of his children and grandchildren on hikes to Table Rock.

He taught Drivers Ed for many years and he often laughed at the silly things the students did behind the wheel. He had nerves of steel and the courage of a lion to sit in the same car as so many beginner drivers. Oh, the adventures he had!

Selar loved accounting, math, and working on finances, and delighted in expressing his age as a math equation. When someone asked how old he was, he would reply with a twinkle in his eye, “9 squared plus 1”, “9 squared plus 2,” etc. and this year, on his birthday, “10 squared minus 6.” He especially enjoyed watching people’s faces as they tried to solve it.

Selar was an active member in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many capacities. After retirement, he served 4 missions for the church with his wife. He truly loved the gospel and had a strong testimony of its precepts, and great faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Selar was preceded in death by his parents and 10 siblings; his beloved wife Elva, of 67 years; son-in-law, David Lewis; daughter-in-law, Melanie Marcum; two grandchildren: Jared Lewis and Paul Marcum; and one great grandchild, Adella Howard.

Selar is survived by his children: Nettie Lou Johnson (John) of Klamath Falls, OR; Debra Packer (Robert) of Clearfield, UT.; Kevin Marcum (Bonita) of Fowler, KS; JoLynne Jones (Kirk) of Denver, CO; Susan Parsons (Kevin) of Ririe, ID; Jana Hershberger (Mike) of Lavon, TX; Brett Marcum of Victor, ID; Teresa Davies (Bill) of Maricopa, AZ; Jennifer Derbyshire (Troy) of Woods Cross, UT.; younger brother, Shelby of Boise, ID; many nieces and nephews; his beloved and cherished 42 grandchildren, 100 great grandchildren by the end of this year, and a growing number of great-great-grandchildren.

His posterity was the joy of his life. He loved spending as much time with them as possible.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 4, 2026, at the Tetonia Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with Bishop Collin Hunter officiating. The family will receive friends and family Thursday morning from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment will be in the Cache Clawson cemetery under the direction of Baxter Funeral home with military honors by American Legion Post 95.