Rodney Eldon Eckman

Rodney Eldon Eckman passed away May 18, 2026, and was born in Boise ID on April 8, 1937, to Rodney Sheldon and Helen June Hansen Eckman. His sister Sharon was born about a year later.

They lived in Boise for 10 years then moved to Horseshoe Bend. His father worked at logging there and Rod had his own business hauling garbage on a 4-wheel trailer pulled by a garden tractor for $8 a month. Later they moved to Riggins Where his father still worked in logging. Rod went to school there and remembered that the next-door neighbor had a watermelon patch. The kids would sneak in, swipe a melon and go down along the Salmon River to eat them. Later they moved to West Yellowstone, MT where he worked with his dad in logging. They were there for 4 or 5 years then moved to Grays River WY for a while before he started driving long distance truck. He married Pearl Jackson and they had three children, Cindy, Cody and Chance. They were later divorced.

He married Colleen (Leatham) Park in 1974 and became Dad to her two daughters, Darla and Vicki. They were married for 52 years. About 1968 he went to work at the ID Stud Mill where he operated the front-end loader lovingly called "the Monster" until Jan. 1987 when they moved to Las Vegas where he and Colleen worked side-by-side driving truck in construction. When they retired in 2005, they moved back home and bought a home in Lyman. Where they lived until he passed away.

Inurnment will be at a later date at the Sutton Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Eckersell Memorial Chapel. Condolences may be sent to the family or at eckersellfneralhome.com.

We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Home Health and Hospice caregivers who went above and beyond in their care. We truly could not have done this without their kindness, patience and support.