Gail Ernest Bingham

Gail Ernest Bingham left this life from Idaho Falls on June 16, 2021. He was born to Wallace Ruel and Bernice LaVer (Birdno) Bingham in Safford, Arizona. His family moved from Arizona to California when he was 9 years old, living in Stinson Beach, Marin City, then Port Chicago, where his father worked inside ships as a carpenter building cribbing for loading and transporting munitions during WWII. Just before the war ended, the family moved to Junction City, Oregon, where he remained through high school.

Gail was a worker. In high school, he began working in a cannery, then in the fields weeding beets, picking cherries and beans, stringing beans, and moving pipe. He later added an early morning job in a local bakery.

After graduation, he went to Oregon State College (now Oregon State University) intending to study chemistry. On registration day, he got mixed up and ended up in Chemical Engineering, an event he later said was a blessing for him and his career.

While studying for his B.S. degree, Gail continued to work, setting pins in a bowling alley, washing dishes, planting trees, doing yard work for different people, and working in the college chemistry labs. During the summers, he returned home to work long hours in the cannery.

In his senior year of college, he saw Ellen Hunter, a senior at Corvallis High School, playing the organ at church one day and, according to him, knew immediately that she was the one. They were sealed in the newly constructed Los Angeles temple shortly after, both graduated on the same day. They were married for 63 years until Ellen’s death on July 25, 2020.

After graduation, Gail was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers, and the couple moved to Fort Belvoir in Alexandria, Virginia, then to Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas. After completing his army service, they moved to Idaho Falls, where Gail worked as head of projects for Westinghouse at the Idaho National Laboratory. He continued as a senior engineering manager until his retirement, after which he consulted with the Department of Energy for several years.

Gail was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, serving faithfully in a variety of stake and ward positions. He was absolutely dependable and took pleasure in doing his work well. He enjoyed family history work and served faithfully in the temple for many years. Of all his activities, however, he most enjoyed the silent service he could give to those around him: regularly shoveling snow from the driveways of multiple friends and neighbors; sharing produce from his carefully tended garden; visiting those who were sick, or alone; and reaching out to support and encourage those around him. Though he was a man of few words, his actions spoke volumes.

He is survived by his five children: Steven (Brenda) Bingham of Wake Forest, NC, Brian (Cynthia) Bingham of Anacortes, Washington, Laura (Mark) Underhill of McClain, Mississippi, Terry (Michelle) Bingham of Beaverton, Oregon and Janette (Mark) Larsen of Idaho Falls; 16 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren; sister Karmen Bingham Schmidt; and brother Alan Kent Bingham.

He was preceded in death by his wife Ellen, his parents, a brother Wallace Karl Bingham, and sister Karene Bingham Davis.

A brief graveside service will be held at 11:30 a.m., June 23rd, 2021, with interment in the Ammon Cemetery.