Evan Ernest Godfrey

Evan E. Godfrey, 97, passed away peacefully on May 18, 2026. He was born on October 10, 1928, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was the oldest of four children born to Charles E. and Claudia Hansen Godfrey. As a young child living through the depression, they moved several times, settling on the family homestead near Ucon. He spent his childhood years working on the family farm, helping his father with cows, horses, pigs, chickens, planting and harvesting crops, and irrigating. He was also quite inventive, building a crystal radio in his early teens. He graduated from Ucon High School and then served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Oregon and Montana. Within two weeks of returning from his mission, he was drafted into the army and served in the Korean conflict as a communications specialist, rising to the rank of staff sergeant before his honorable discharge in 1953.

Three months after returning from Korea, Evan met his beautiful bride, Elaine Thornton, at a Gold and Green Ball. They were married July 22, 1953, in the Idaho Falls Temple. The happy couple lived in Idaho Falls, eventually building their current home near Lincoln. Evan loved electronics and owned a television repair shop before applying his skills to the Naval Reactor Facility, where he was employed for 35 years.

He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, fulfilling callings in the young men’s organization, as a seventy (missionary), several bishoprics, on the high council, and published the weekly bulletin. After retirement, Evan was a long-serving family history center missionary who kept the computers and servers running. Of course, he made many lifelong friends through his work, church service, and activities. He was always willing to serve anyone and helped solve many problems with creativity and ingenuity.

Evan and Elaine loved to travel both domestically and internationally. They spent many vacations camping in the wilds of Idaho. These generally included hunting, fishing, swimming, boating, hiking, and just enjoying their family and the beauty of God’s earth. Evan was the patriarch of approximately 30 years of annual, weeklong family campouts. As a couple, they visited all 50 states, mostly in their camp trailer. He enjoyed using his inventiveness to solve complex problems and would challenge any willing person to play a game of chess. He enjoyed feasting upon the scriptures, helping people fix anything or move, watching good old westerns, and just visiting. He was an avid reader and a doer.

Evan is survived by his children Keith (Linda) of Ammon, ID; Paul (Carol) of Billings MT; Joyce (Randy) Born of Centerville, UT; Michael (Becky) of Rexburg, ID; and Gary (Lynette) of Centerville, UT; 29 grandchildren, 65 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren, a brother (Bruce) in Hyde Park, UT; and sister (Sharla Grover) in Ririe, ID. He was preceded in death by his lovely wife of 65 years, Elaine; his parents; his sister, Carol Park; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the staff at Homestead Assisted Living Center for their loving and expert care these last few months. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at Coltrin Mortuary, 2100 First Street in Idaho Falls. The family will visit with friends preceding the funeral from 10:00 am until 10:45 am. Interment will be in the Ucon Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.coltrinmortuary.com.