Verna Darrington

Verna Mae Nelson Darrington

Verna Mae Nelson Darrington passed peacefully from this life on November 5, 2020 at the age of 89, from cause’s incident to her age, in Tooele, UT. She was born July 26, 1931 in Dietrich, Idaho to Bertran Lavell Nelson and Iva Hansen. She joined an older sister and brother, Norma and Wayne, as the third child in the family. Later, three more sisters joined the family- Laura, Veda and Rena.

Her childhood was spent in Dietrich, Wendell and Gooding, Idaho living on farms that her parents managed. She learned at a young age the meaning of work! Life on a farm was never dull and there was always plenty to do from milking cows, to gathering eggs, to weeding the crops, to stacking bales of hay. In her youth she learned to play the piano and to sew, both talents she continued on with as an adult. Just before her senior year of high school began, her parents left farming  and purchased a home in Buhl, Idaho. After high school, Verna attended Twin Falls Business School and excelled in the Stenographer Program. After graduation she accepted a job with the Social Security Administration, where she worked for two years.

In 1950 she met the love of her life, Neil J Darrington, on a blind date set up by mutual friends. They had an enjoyable evening together as they danced the night away. They both described the experience as having met their “soul mate!” After Neil’s honorable discharge from the army and return from serving in the Korean Conflict, they married in the Idaho Falls Temple on January 13, 1953. The early years of their marriage were spent in various small communities in Idaho where four of their seven children were born- Allan, Vicki, Mary Anne and Bonita. In 1962 they relocated with Neil’s job in the propane industry to Las Vegas, NV where Frederick and Russell joined the family. In 1970 they moved to the St. George, UT area to start a branch office of Morgan Pest Control for which Neil had been working for a few years. Their last child, Josephine, was born while living there.

In 1980 Neil and Verna sold Morgan Pest Control and relocated back to Neil’s home town of Elba, Idaho to semi-retire. After several years of living in Elba they moved to Magna, UT to be closer to their children and grandchildren.

Verna was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, and friend. She was a talented baker, seamstress, quilter, crafter and homemaker. She taught her children the meaning of “working for what you want” and “taking care of what you have”. She loved her children dearly and in various ways, let each of them know that.

Verna was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings- Norma, Wayne, Laura, and Rena, and her beloved husband, Neil in 2017.

Verna is survived by her children- Allan (Trudy), West Valley City, UT, Vicki, Colorado City, AZ, Mary Anne (James Warren), Mount Pleasant, UT, Bonnie (Gary Allred), Santa Clara, UT, Fred, Burley, ID, Russ (Tracie), West Valley City, UT and Jodi (Devon), Tooele, UT, twenty-six grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren, her sister in law- Veda Nelson Las Vegas, NV, her sister and brother in law- Veda and Hyrum Auger (Tremonton, UT), and many nieces and nephews.

Verna and Neil were life- long members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She had a strong testimony of the Savior and tried to live by his teachings.

A graveside service will be held in her honor on Saturday, November 21st 1:00 p.m. at the Elba Cemetery in Elba, Idaho.