Della D’Vonne Mallard

Della D’Vonne Mallard, 90, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, passed peacefully on December 23, 2025, surrounded by her family at Parkwood Assisted Living Community, under the care of Symbii Hospice.

Della was born September 17, 1935, in Basalt, Idaho, to Claude M. Kelsey and Nettie Jane Singleton-Kelsey. She was their seventh of ten children. She grew up on her family’s farm in Basalt, Idaho, and eventually lived south of Shelley, Idaho. It was on her family’s farm that she learned to work hard and have fun. She came from a rich lineage of soldiers, patriots, and pioneers. Her parents instilled in her the values of honesty, loyalty, patriotism, and family. Della was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and remained a faithful member throughout her life, and loved the Lord.

She attended school in both Basalt and Shelley, graduating from Shelley High School in 1953. While living in Shelley, she met Alma Mallard when he was admiring her brother’s airplane. They quickly became friends and began dating in 8th grade. On September 23, 1953, she was married and sealed for eternity to Alma Dale Mallard in the LDS Logan, Utah Temple.

Alma and Della have made their home in Mississippi, Alaska, Washington, California, and eventually settled in Shelley, Idaho, where they raised their family of 9 children, 6 boys and 3 girls. She was a homemaker and excelled at being a mom and grandma. She did it all and did it well. The home was clean, the yard manicured, and the food delicious. The children were well cared for with plenty of love, laughs, and fun. Alongside her husband they ran an agricultural spray business and charter company. They were privileged to do quite a bit of traveling and take their family along with them. As the family grew and moved away, Alma and Della made their home in Idaho Falls, where they lived for over 30 years. Their home was a gathering place for many picnics, parties and ‘just because’. Everyone loved to go to Grandma’s.

They were blessed with lots of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even great-great-grandchildren.

To quote Mom, “Life has been good to us, we have a good family, and have had many wonderful experiences. Like everyone else, it has had its problems and trials but to sum it up, life with an adventurer has never been dull!”

Mom loved all of us and we love her. We will miss her terribly, she has left a void that only she can fill.

Della is survived by her husband, Alma Mallard of Idaho Falls, ID; son, Duen (Jolene) Mallard of Idaho Falls, ID; daughter, Terri Mallard of Twin Falls, ID; son, Kelly (Michelle) Mallard of Idaho Falls, ID; son, Dana (Rhonda) Mallard of Idaho Falls, ID; son, Joseph (Lisa) Mallard of Idaho Falls, ID; daughter, Holly (Jeff) Coles of Ririe, ID; sister D’Anne Roberts of Colordo Springs, CO; 25 grandchildren, 67 great-grandchildren, and 8 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her sons, Todd Mallard, and Kym Mallard; her daughter, Dayle Anne Collins; father, Caulde M. Kelsey; mother, Nettie Jane Singleton-Kelsey; 5 brothers and 3 sisters, sister, Dawn Kelsey; brother, Duen Kelsey; sister, Mickey Lou Kelsey; brother, Deloy Kelsey; brother, Dean Kelsey; brother, Dix Kelsey; brother, David Kelsey; sister, Debby Kelsey; in-laws, nieces and nephews, grandparents on both sides, lots of family and friends, and lot of little white dogs.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at Wood Funeral Home, 273 N. Ridge Avenue in Idaho Falls, ID. A visitation for family and friends will be held Friday evening, January 2, 2026, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. and from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, January 3, 2026, prior to the services at the funeral home. Burial services will be held at the Archer-Sutton Cemetery.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.woodfuneralhome.com