Darrel Lavern Hodge

RUPERT – Darrel Lavern Hodge, 83, finished his mortal mission on May 27, 2018, at his home in Rupert, Idaho. He was born on Sept. 15, 1934, in Burley, Idaho to Calvin Bernard Hodge & Myrtle Luella Pierce. His childhood was full of fun playing with his siblings and friends under the street lights, hooky bobbing and swimming in the Snake River. When he was 14, his mother passed away leaving his father to fill both parental roles. Much gratitude goes to his Aunt Elsie for her yummy hamburgers on a school day. When Dad was in the ninth grade he quit school and started working odd jobs. He soon found himself joining the United States Army.

In 1954, he married Guylia Madge Young in Burley, Idaho. In 1965 their marriage was solemnized in the Oakland California Temple. His time spent in the US Army brought them much adventure living in Colorado, California, Utah, Germany and Texas with special assignments for Dad in Vietnam and Korea. He received his GED and took several college classes along the way. He retired in 1974 and they found their way back to Burley because that was always home. He received his associates degree while Janet was in Jr. High. This life brought him much joy having six children, 26 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren to love and squeeze.

After Madge’s death in 2000, he married Araceli Canto in the Idaho Falls Temple. Araceli soon took on the spoiling role of Grandma. We appreciate her being Dad’s helping hand, best friend and sweetheart. They served a service mission together at the LDS Church Employment Center in Burley. Dad will be remembered for his watching John Wayne anything, endless double mint gum supply, mastering laugh-crying, sneaking sips of Diet Coke to the grandkids, and endless support in baseball games, birthdays and weddings.

He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in several capacities. Although he did not serve a full-time mission, his whole life was lived as the best example of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus taught “to love one another as I have loved you.” Dad truly saw others the way our Heavenly Father sees us.

He is survived by his wife, Araceli; children: Guylia (Bruce) James of Burley, Korleen (Gregg) Beardsley of West Virgina, Marsheila of Rupert, Lance (Gaye) Hodge of Umatilla, Oregon, Mark (Norina) Hodge of Lehi, Utah, and Janet (Steve) Child of Kimberly; a sister-in-law, Shirley Hodge; two brothers-in-law, Kenneth Young of Rexburg and Gaylord Young of Burley; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Calvin and Myrtle; siblings, Francis, Jim and Albert; his first wife, Madge; and a granddaughter, Lindsi Beardsley.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, June 4, at Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley. Friends and family may call from 5 until 7 p.m. Sunday, June 3, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. preceding the funeral. Burial will be in Pleasant View Cemetery in Burley, with military rites provided by the Mini-Cassia Veterans Group.

In lieu of flowers the family has asked that donations go to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Missionary Fund.