Darrell Bennett

DARRELL BENNETT IDAHO FALLS, ID -- Darrell Orison Bennett, 87, died September 23, 2006, at Life Care Center in Idaho Falls. His family extends appreciation to the kind, caring staff at Life Care and the friends and acquaintances who made him feel loved there during the last five years. Darrell was born April 15, 1919, in a farmhouse fifteen miles south of Grace, Idaho, in the little community of Mound Valley, to Thomas B. Bennett and Letha Orison Bennett. He attended school in a two-room schoolhouse through the eighth grade and spent his high school years at Thatcher High. He married Carol Neeley November 29, 1939, in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple. They were divorced ten years ago. During World War II, Darrell was drafted by the Army, and they lived in Texas and California. After the war, the family returned to Idaho Falls where they purchased their first home at 130 E. Crowley Street. Darrell was employed in various management positions at the Idaho Potato Growers, Inc. for his entire adult life. In 1964, Darrell and Carol built a new home in the Jenny Lee Addition on Koro Avenue, and shortly afterward, built a summer cabin in Island Park. In 1973, when Darrell took early retirement, they sold their home on Koro and moved to Island Park where they made their year-round residence. After fourteen years, they sold their cabin and returned to Idaho Falls, where they purchased a townhouse on Henryanna. A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Darrell was a High Priest and served in various positions in the Idaho Falls 18th Ward and the Island Park Branch. When they moved back to Idaho Falls, he and Carol served as LDS representatives at EIRMC and as Sacrament Meeting coordinators at Idaho Falls Care Center. They spent many hours serving in the Temple. Darrell is survived by a son, Clint (Pamela) Bennett, Dallas, Texas; a daughter, Connie (Dennis) Otteson, Idaho Falls; five grandchildren, Jim (Socorro) Otteson, Paolo Alto, CA; Annie Bennett (Will) Bullock, Houston, TX; Polly Otteson (Paul) Strobelt, Gilbert, AZ; Steve (Royleane) Otteson, Redmond, WA; Mary Otteson (Mike) Harris, Idaho Falls; twenty great-grandchildren; a sister, Carmen Frandsen, Lewisville; a brother, Gary Bennett, Idaho Falls; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Delaine, and his ex-wife, Carol, March 3, 2006. Funeral services will be at Wood Chapel of the Pines, 273 N. Ridge Avenue, Wednesday, September 27, 2006, at 11:00 a.m. The family will visit with friends at the funeral home one hour before the services. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery.