Obituaries

May 26, 2018

Olga Bechter Rippel was an amazing woman. She was intelligent and accomplished in many endeavors. She was a true Christian, seeking to be the best person she could be and to help others achieve their potential as well. Olga's life was one of service to others through church, school and civic organizations. She was possessed of endless drive and...

May 25, 2018

Shirley May "Peach" Burtenshaw Fortner, 93, of Idaho Falls, passed away May 25, 2018, at her home surrounded by her family. She was cared for by her loving family and Encompass Hospice.

Shirley was born May 6, 1925, in Shelton, Idaho, to Benjamin Burtenshaw Jr. And Eva Augusta Martin Burtenshaw. She grew up and attended schools in...

May 25, 2018

Clayton Wilfredo McClaskey, 38, of Idaho Falls, passed away May 25, 2018, at his home.

Clayton was born May 23, 1980, in Manila, Philippines. In 1983, he was adopted by Steven McClaskey and Thirza Jordan McClaskey. He had polio as a child and though he was not expected to walk, he still did. He grew up and...

May 24, 2018

Kenneth Dean Reeder, 80, of Ammon, passed away May 24, 2018, at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, surrounded by his family. Ken was born October 19, 1937, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to William Russell Reeder and Annie Marguerite Schwartzmann Reeder. He grew up and attended schools in Shelley and Idaho Falls. He attended Holy Rosary Catholic School and graduated...

May 23, 2018

Don Paul Mitchell, 76, of Ammon, passed away May 23, 2018, at his home. He was born March 3, 1942, in Shelley, Idaho, to Emmett D. Mitchell and Mary Elizabeth Hardcastle Mitchell. He grew up and attended schools in the area and graduated from Bonneville High School. On September 10, 1960, he married Margaret Tomiye Furukawa in Idaho Falls,...

May 23, 2018

Elaine Iola Moore, 69, of Idaho Falls, passed away May 23, 2018, at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. Elaine was born November 22, 1948, in Salmon, Idaho, to Blaine Cook and Iola Bitton Cook. She grew up and attended schools in Salmon and graduated from Salmon High School. Elaine also attended Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho. On September 28, 1968,...

May 22, 2018

Helen Betty Heileson Myers Hess, 79, of Layton, Utah, died Tuesday, May 22, 2018, at McKay-Dee Hospital, surrounded by her family. Helen was born July 31, 1938, in Rexburg, Idaho, at the Middleton Maternity Home, to Orson Howard Heileson and Josie Maxine Smith Heileson. She graduated from Idaho Falls High School and later from Ricks College. She graduated from...

May 22, 2018

Robert Allen "Chris" Christoffersen, 80, of Idaho Falls, passed away May 22, 2018, at his home.

Chris was born on a Willwood homestead October 10, 1937 to Marse and Anna Jane Sailor Christoffersen. Was schooled in the Powell Schools and graduated in 1955. Graduated from NWJC 1957, Joined the Navy 1957, married Mary Alice Smart December 1959,...

May 20, 2018

Don B. Morgan, of Idaho Falls, passed away Sunday, May 20, 2018, of natural causes at Fairwinds Assisted Living in Idaho Falls. He was 97 years old. He was born September 16, 1920, in LaBelle, Idaho, to Frank and Dessie Morgan. Don grew up and attended area schools and graduated from Rigby High School. On January 6, 1946, he...

May 18, 2018

Dallas G. Allen, 82, of Idaho Falls, passed on to his Heavenly Father on May 18, 2018. He was born to Dallas C and Clara Hendricks Allen on October 19, 1935, in Marysville, Idaho. At the age of 10, he met his soulmate, Virginia. They were joined in matrimony 10 years later by a justice of peace, and they repeated...

May 18, 2018

William Alma "Bill" Meppen, 84, of Idaho Falls, passed away May 18, 2018, at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. Bill was born May 11, 1934, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Louis August Meppen and Melda Bingham Meppen. He grew up and attended schools in Idaho Falls. On June 15, 1955, he married Beverly Jean Young in Idaho Falls, Idaho....

May 18, 2018

Joan Pearl "JoAnn" Brammer Fry, 86, of Ammon, passed away May 18, 2018, at The Gables of Ammon Assisted Living Center. She was under the care of Encompass Hospice.

JoAnn was born April 22, 1932, in Roberts, Idaho, to Robert Fredrick Brammer and Clesta Pearl Nebeker Brammer. She grew up and attended schools in Rigby and graduated...

May 18, 2018

Julia Gayle Laird, 55, of Idaho Falls, passed away May 18, 2018, at her home. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 22, 2018, at Ammon Cemetery. The family will visit with friends beginning at 1:00 p.m. at Wood Funeral Home East Side, 963 South Ammon Road, prior to the graveside services. Graveside Services will be held...

May 17, 2018

Norma Lee Warren, 92, of Ammon, passed away May 17, 2018, at The Gables of Ammon Assisted Living Center. She was under the care of Encompass Home Health and Hospice, along with her loving daughter, Delores. Norma was born September 8, 1925, in Willow, Oklahoma, to Thomas Perry Lane and Iva Bell Cox Lane. Norma continued to spend her...

May 17, 2018

Tarrell Gooch Hatch passed peacefully from this life Thursday morning May 17, 2018, to reunite with his wife, family members, and dear friends. Tarrell was born July 20, 1921 to Edwin Pace and Ethel Gooch Hatch in their home at Swan Lake, Idaho. Also born the same day was Tarrell's twin sister Carrell. Tarrell and his twin were the...

May 14, 2018

Fred L. Emmitt, 73, passed away peacefully at his home on May 14, 2018, of pneumonia, while fighting his battle with lung cancer. He was surrounded by his wife and family. Fred was born February 3, 1945, in Ogden, Utah. As a young boy he lived in various states due to his father’s occupation. The longest he ever lived...

May 14, 2018

Marian Joy DuMars, 64, of Idaho Falls, passed away May 14, 2018, at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. Marian was born August 20, 1953, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Richard Norbert Lazarski and Charlotte Ruth Goetsch Lazarski. She grew up and attended schools in Milwaukee and graduated from St. Mary’s Academy. Marian and her son, Jacob, made their home in...

May 14, 2018

Milan Prokes, 85, of Idaho Falls, passed away on May 14, 2018, at Good Samaritan Village of Idaho Falls. No services are being planned.

May 13, 2018

Iris "Sami" Wise, born October 1945, passed away peacefully May 13, 2018, at Bingham Memorial Hospital in Blackfoot.

Iris lived most of her life in eastern Idaho. She was born in Rigby and was the eighth of 13 children born to Thomas and Iona Ward.

Iris was an amazing singer and musician. For many years,...

May 12, 2018

Matthew Russell Steele, 40, of Idaho Falls, passed away May 12, 2018, near Heise, Idaho, of injuries received in an ATV accident. Matt was born September 18, 1977, in Idaho Falls, to Larry Russell Steele and Denice Lamont Steele. He grew up in the area and graduated from Fairview High School. He loved working with his hands and as he...