Colene Ball Browning

Colene Ball Browning, age 87, unexpectedly passed away in her home on the evening of August 10, 2026.

Colene was born January 15, 1939, in Blackfoot, Idaho to Raymond G. Ball and Clara A. Pabst. When about six years old, her family moved to Idaho Avenue in Rigby. She graduated from Rigby High School with the class of 1957. She then moved to Salt Lake City, Utah and graduated in one year from Stevens-Henagar College with a Secretarial Certificate. She worked for the General Electric Company for three years before meeting her future husband, Darwin A. Browning. They were married May 16, 1961, in Elko, Nevada and sealed in the Salt Lake Temple, February 23, 1962.

Darwin and Colene made a home in Bountiful, Utah. Darwin was then provided professional opportunities that moved them to New Jersey, Maryland, and eventually back to Bountiful, Utah. Eight daughters joined the family during this time: Bonnie, Kathy, Janet, Linda, Laura, Darlene, and Connie, with Cara joining the family after their return to Idaho.

After ten years in Bountiful, the family sold their investments there and moved back to Annis, Idaho. They built a home on the old Browning homestead, and lived there together for thirty-three years until Darwin passed away on March 26, 2009, at the age of 81. Colene then moved and made her home in Menan. At our family reunions, missing Darwin and with all her daughters now married, she would jokingly say, “I’m the only Browning that showed up!”

Colene was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She willingly served her Savior through the years in many positions. She served a mission with Darwin in Nashville, Tennessee, and together they were temple officiators in the Idaho Falls Temple. She was also employed as head secretary at Ricks College in the Religion Department for 12 years. Colene’s interests were wonderful and varied: family history, reading, sewing, music, gardening, drawing and painting. But most valued to her was being a mother and grandmother.

Colene is preceded in death by her dear husband, Darwin Browning, her parents, Raymond and Clara Ball, her siblings, Raelene Merrill, Reynold Ball, and Gordon Ball, her grandson, Denver Briggs, and her great-granddaughter, Mya Allen.

Colene is survived by her 8 daughters: Bonnie (Randall Allen), Kathy (Gary Asper), Janet (Troy Shippen), Linda (Wayne Hill), Laura (Shawn Horman), Darlene (Warren Dowdle), Connie (Stan Marshall), and Cara (Elwin Harderlie); her siblings Richard (Marilyn) Ball and JoNell (Jeff) Marotz; (38) grandchildren and (68) great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 22nd, at 11:00 a.m. Viewing services will be held Friday, August 21st from 6:00-7:30 p.m. and prior to funeral services Saturday, August 22nd from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. All services will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3547 East Menan-Lorenzo Hwy, Menan, Idaho (red brick church). Interment will follow at the Annis Cemetery.

Flowers and memorials can be sent to Eckersell Funeral Home (101 West Main Street, Rigby, Idaho 83442).