Donette Eliason Ringel

Donette Eliason Ringel passed peacefully from this life to the next on March 11, 2014 after a long and courageous battle with cancer.  She was born in Brigham City, Utah on January 5, 1950 to Don and Carol Ipsen Eliason.  She was raised on a ranch in Holbrook, Idaho and attended elementary school in Holbrook, Idaho until the 4th grade and then went on to attend schools in Malad.  Donette was involved in many activities at school.  She was an accomplished pianist and organist and also enjoyed singing, dancing, and sewing.  She attended college at Ricks College, Brigham Young University, and Utah State University.  She married Merlyn Robert Ringel for time and all eternity in the Logan L.D.S. temple on June 1, 1973.  Together they have lived in Soda Springs, ID, Rexburg, ID, Shelley, ID, Sandy, UT, Rigby, ID, and have made their home in Menan, ID for the past 22 years. She supported her husband all throughout their lives and thoroughly enjoyed working alongside him in their wholesale greenhouse business. Donette’s greatest pride and joy were her children and grandchildren.  She and Merlyn adopted their son, Shawn, through L.D.S. Family Services in 1977 and their daughter, Marcel in 1980.  They were a great joy and blessing to her.  She was a wonderful mother and influenced and inspired her children in all they did.  She taught them to love music and the gospel of Jesus Christ. She loved being a grandmother and looked forward to any time she could spend with her precious grandchildren of whom she was so proud.  She supported them in all they did and loved to take them camping and hiking. Donette was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  She loved the gospel and served faithfully in many callings throughout her life including Young Women’s President and counselor, girl’s camp director, ward organist and chorister, Relief Society teacher, counselor and pianist, ward choir accompanist, and Relief Society advisor at BYU-Idaho.  Donette worked as a secretary for Davidson Sales & Engineering in Sandy, Utah, as a teacher’s aide at Rigby High School, and as a secretary at West Jefferson Elementary/Jr. High and High School.  In 1999 she began working at Rick’s College (BYU-Idaho) in the Registrar’s Office and later as the secretary for the College of Physical Sciences and Engineering.  She had a contagious laugh and a friendly smile for everyone she met.  She loved helping those she worked with and especially loved working with the students. She was blessed with many life-long friends as a result of her employment opportunities.  Donette retired from BYU-Idaho in 2012.  She is survived by her husband, Merlyn Robert Ringel, of Menan, daughter, Marcel (Jeff) Parkinson, of Plano, son, Shawn (Alicia) Ringel, of Idaho Falls, parents, Don and Carol Eliason, of Holbrook, sisters, Judy (Val) Bush of Sugar City, Debra (Jay) Munns, of Garland, Utah, brothers Kenneth (Kristy) Eliason, of Holbrook, Idaho, Ronald (Shellie) Eliason, of Dubois and 7 grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 15, 2014 at the Menan LDS Stake Center, (698 N. 3600 E., Menan) the family will receive friends Friday 7 to 8:30 p.m., at Eckersell Memorial Chapel (101 W. Main Street, Rigby) and from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m., prior to services at the church. Burial will be in the Annis Little Butte Cemetery. Services are under the care of Eckersell Memorial Chapel in Rigby.