Doris Irene Remsburg

Doris Irene Butler Remsburg, 95, passed away May 24, 2026, from kidney failure and other factors contributed to her age. She was surrounded by her children.

Doris Irene Butler Remsburg was born in the presence of a relative and a midwife in the corner of a preserved, and still-standing, log cabin in the Bone/Willow Creek area of Idaho, to early homesteaders Ralph Frances Butler and Carrie Lenore Beckley Butler, on August 30, 1930. She was blessed with an ancestry of hard workers, who were loyal and had longevity. Her death closes a generation being the last surviving member of the Butler family. She was the youngest girl of 15 children and lived her younger years in a pioneer lifestyle of milking cows, tending pigs, chickens, calves, eating bread and milk meals, wore hand-me-down shoes and clothes... money wasn't plentiful, but love was.

She lost her mother when she was 11 years old but was blessed with the everlasting deep love and bonds with her siblings throughout her life. Her elementary school years were in Blackfoot, Idaho, followed by a graduation from Idaho Falls High School in 1948, after the family relocation to Idaho Falls, Idaho.

On April 9, 1949, she married her true love and life companion John “Jack” Remsburg, whom she met while making milk shakes and sandwiches at the local Idaho Falls' Snowballs Sport fountain shop. The two of them were inseparable as you rarely saw one without the other. They never wanted to be apart; it was never just 'Jack' and never just 'Doris'... it was always 'Jack & Doris'. We were never surprised to see them dancing in the kitchen or on their Party Barge pontoon boat to Country Western music.

In the years to follow she dedicated many hours to support her husband and their two perfect children, Rod and Debbie, working in the potato fields picking and sorting spuds by hand on the combine, selling Avon door-to-door, and waitressing at the one and only 'Elite Topper Club Restaurant' on South Yellowstone Highway, Idaho Falls.

Nonetheless, her true career began in 1966 as a switchboard operator/receptionist for Bonneville County Honorable Captain Thomas J. Wadsworth, Honorable Mayors S. Eddie Pedersen and Mayor Thomas Campbell, where she was a gracious host directing and connecting the public to the precise department necessary for assistance. She retired from the City of Idaho Falls in 1990 to join her husband Jack in his retirement.

The two of them, side by side and hand in hand, enjoyed 57 years of camping, water skiing, snowmobiling, fishing, square dancing, traveling, bowling, jitterbugging, and were active members of the BPO Elks Lodge. In 1979, with the help of their son Rod, and brother-in-law VerNon Gardner, they built a log cabin on the shore of Palisades Reservoir and enjoyed many years giving countless hours of tender loving care to their pride and joy cabin life. They relished the relaxation and peacefulness of the view of the Reservoir and the tranquility of being on the water catching fish on their Party Barge. The cabin was always open to family and friends as they loved sharing their bit of paradise with one and all. In addition to their cabin, they purchased recreational vehicles and traveled wherever the roads would lead them. Their travels led them to the warm, sun-shiny city of Surprise, Arizona, where they purchased a home, allowing them to be official Snowbirds' to escape Idaho's long winter months. They embraced a beautiful life of retirement with man new friends and activities

Doris continually demonstrated true love by nurturing and caring for her husband through his poor health the last 15 years of their marriage but never complained. After Jack's passing in 2006, Doris continued living winter months at their home in the Happy Trails Retirement Resort in Surprise, Arizona, where she had a "come on in" greeting to everyone who knocked on her door. Her heartwarming greeting made everyone feel welcomed and she truly treasured being part of such a wonderful, caring and giving community, making priceless friends she considered as family. No one ever left her home hungry or thirsty because when you arrived, she gave you a healthy hug and then...her kitchen cupboards and refrigerator door opened offering food and beverages including an ice-cold beer, vodka tonic or a drink of your choice along with munchies.

Doris took great pride in her appearance, keeping a youthful figure and was meticulous in her appearance. She was a true 'survivor; surviving a severely cut leg (resulting in gangrene) when she was 13, a lightning strike while swimming in the Idaho Canal in her 20's; uterine cancer in her 60's; a dog attack in her 70's and skin cancer on her face in her 80's but continued to be physically and mentally active. Her social personality, amazing spirit and spunk were well-known and admired by many. She was blessed with an extraordinary aptitude for analyzing people. Although she faced her fair share of hardships and medical challenges, she remained positive, appreciated every sunrise, every cup of coffee with Ginger Snap cookies and never lost sight of the beauty of life's journey. Her pride, strength, resilience, and unwavering spirit was beyond admirable.

Her passions were loving and caring for her family, home remedies, crossword puzzles, The National Enquirer, Lawrence Welk, Phoenix Suns and dancing. Some people walk through life; some people dance - and she danced as light as a feather. When music played, she was snapping her fingers or tapping her toes. Her heartfelt spirit was "given the chance...dance" and she couldn't get enough of dancing with her husband, Jack, and son, Rod. We are positive she Is up there dancing now.

She spent her last year of life at Fairwinds - Sand Creek Assisted Living Center, the best assisted living facility in, Idaho Falls. Her last two months were the worst as the pain ravaged her body. Special thanks to Machelle Bergemen (General Manager), Diana Mendoza (Health & Wellness Director), and Michelle Krager (Health & Wellness Coordinator), and all the wonderful staff that took care of her. They provided her with loving care which she treasured and appreciated. And, last but not least, thanks to Fairwinds' special Chef Jorge Mendoza, his food is amazing. It's hard to imagine fixing meals for so many people with so many dietary requests but his food comes out to perfection - Thank you Chef Mendoza and your kitchen staff.

She is survived by her son, Rod Remsburg (Becky) Idaho Falls, ID; daughter, Debra Combo (Jeff Winberg) of Idaho Falls; dearest friend, Robert Stenson of Rugby, North Dakota; grandchildren, Mateo (Barbara) Remsburg (children, Connor and Nickolas) of Athens, Ohio; Cody Remsburg (children, Taylor) of Idaho Falls; Shayly (Mark) Scherer (children, Cutter Wasylow, Jasper Wasylow, Oaker Wasylow) American Falls, Idaho.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; nine sisters, Dora Butler, Ethel Topham, Lavella Case, Georgia Edgington, Eva Butler, Grace Ockerman, Uvon McCowin, Lillian Morgan, Carrie 'Peaches' Gardner; five brothers, Buck (Francis) Butler, Woodrow Butler, Ralph Jr. Butler, Alva Butler and Floyd Butler.

We take comfort knowing she has returned home and is at peace, reunited with those who have gone before her. She will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who knew and loved her.

A special thanks to her son Rod, from his sister Debbie, for all his care, time and thoughtful ways for our mother throughout her years.

We are honoring her request of no formal funeral or graveside services but hope one and all will have a toast with your beverage of choice [when you read this obituary] to enjoy the life you were handed and make the best of it as long as you can. Her ashes will be combined with her husband's ashes and spread at their cabin at Palisades - their little Heaven here on Earth. Even though she never wanted to be the center of attention, she is going to be as we are having a Celebration of Life for her with friends and family from 5:30-7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at the Elks Lodge, 640 E. Elva Street in Idaho Falls.

In lieu of flower donations may be made to Mission Hospice.