Floyd Langley Collins, Jr., 80, of Arco, Idaho, passed away on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at his home, surrounded by his loving wife and two daughters.

He was born to Floyd Langley Collins and Daisy Irene (Beaver) Collins on June 29, 1945, in Twin Falls, Idaho. He was more commonly known as “Junior” to those who knew and loved him.

Junior was a “People Person.” It was like he never met a stranger! If you’d happen to walk up on their conversation, you’d assume they had known each other for years. He was never short on words and always enjoyed telling stories and jokes.

Junior said there were three things he wanted to do before he died: celebrate his 60 th wedding anniversary, hold his new great-granddaughter, Madison, and fly in a helicopter. All of those wishes came true. Madison would hold his finger and not let go; his grandson, Colton, piloted the helicopter ride; and he was very excited and proud to make his 60th wedding anniversary!

He married his true love, Linda Marie Rumsey, on March 26, 1966. They exchanged their wedding vows in a small mobile home where they planned to live and start married life. Sharing in this union were both their parents and several siblings.

They stayed in Arco about 2½ years after getting married. Junior helped his dad for about a year with his excavating business, then worked for about 1½ years for a well-known farmer in the valley.

In 1968 they moved to Twin Falls, where Junior enrolled in welding school and earned a welding certificate at the College of Southern Idaho. He worked at welding for about a year and really enjoyed it. Then a representative asked if he’d be interested in their sheet metal apprentice program. Junior thought it would be really interesting, so he accepted their offer. Junior loved working with the sheet metal, learning how to make different parts and then installing them on the job. After fourteen months they started laying off the newer apprentices because they were going to shut down some of the projects. At that point, Junior and Linda decided to go to work for his sister and brother-in-law on their commercial hog farm in Gooding. They were there for three years.

They moved to Arco, Idaho, the end of March 1974. By this time in their lives, Junior and Linda had been blessed with three wonderful children and a fourth child, Derrick Floyd, 2½ years after living in Arco. Junior bought five acres of ground from his dad, across the highway from where his parents lived. Junior told Linda the only way they were ever going to get ahead in this old world was to have a business of their own. Within a short time, they took action!

After settling in Arco, Junior was running his own business in no time at all. With Linda right by his side, they knew they had made the right decision! They named their business “Collins Excavating.” He became known as “Mr. Digger.” It was a name that seemed to fit him and soon spread through the valley. As a result, that’s what we put on his license plate. He was pretty proud of that!

He started working for Silver Creek Irrigation putting in mainlines for pivots and dust control systems for feed lots. He then traveled to Texas and Kansas, mostly putting in dust control systems for big feed lots. Linda flew to Texas and Kansas and spent a week in each state on the job with Junior. She always enjoyed her time with him and was impressed with the work he was doing. Junior was just glad she was there and was always happier when Linda was with him!

Junior loved fishing and telling fishing stories. He started as a young boy and was exceptionally good at it. Junior also really liked to hunt in his younger years. He got interested in hunting with a bow and arrow. In September of 1982, he shot a nice bull elk with his bow and arrow. The antlers are still hanging on the wall above our stairwell to this day! He also enjoyed collecting and working on old Chevy pickups.

Junior had always wanted to learn how to fly an airplane. He called the local flight instructor, but they didn’t have a plane at the time. Linda said, “Why don’t you buy your own airplane?” Junior said, “Really? Are you serious?” Linda said, “Why not?” Junior called the instructor right back to see if he could find him a plane. In a short time, they were the owners of a 1973 Piper Cherokee 180 airplane! He took flying lessons in Arco and the written test in Blackfoot. Then he took the flight test in Blackfoot after which the instructor presented him with his pilot’s license on July 9, 1992. He was really proud of that achievement!

Junior is survived by his wife, Linda Collins, of sixty years. Also, three children: Wade Collins, of The Dalles, Oregon; Karleen (Joseph) Thiel, of Emmett, Idaho; and Deborah Westergard, of Arco, Idaho. He leaves behind 16 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, 4 brothers, 1 sister, and his youngest son, Derrick Floyd.

Until we all meet again, My Love.