Eleanor Balmforth Davies

Eleanor Balmforth Davies died on August 14, 2009, in Idaho Falls, Idaho. She was born March 11, 1920, in Woodville, Idaho, the first child of Ernest Rudolph and Emily Berniece Bowman Balmforth. She was born in a house that was once the first school house in Woodville.

Eleanor graduated from Shelley High School where she excelled in home economics and played in the band.

She married Gilbert Wallace Davies on April 1, 1940, in the Salt Lake Temple. They lived in California during World War II, but returned to Woodville and farmed on the corner of the Snake River. Eleanor supported and helped her husband as he raised potatoes, hay, grain, cattle and managed a dairy farm.

Eleanor was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was a teacher and officer in the Primary, Young Women and Relief Society. She enjoyed her callings and loved to serve.

Eleanor was a devoted mother and wife. Her family came first. She will be remembered for all the service she gave her family and friends, and for all the beautiful handwork she made and gave away. Almost everyone in her home ward has something that she made for them. She loved the holidays and especially enjoyed decorating Christmas trees. She would decorate for the holidays and then invite family and friends over to enjoy the trees, and they would leave with a handmade gift.

She is survived by two daughters, Bonnie Rae Davies Nalder and her husband, Lanny of Providence, Utah, and Patricia Davies Summers and her husband, Kenneth of Ammon, Idaho. She had 9 grandchildren, 33 great grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren including a brand new baby girl named Eleanor Sellers. She is also survived by a sister, Jeneal Jorgensen of Bountiful, Utah.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Gilbert Wallace, an infant son, Myron Gilbert, a daughter LaDawn Berniece, a sister, Lila Burke, two brothers, Garth and Lynn Balmforth, and a great grandson, Seth Savage.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 A.M.  Wednesday, August 19, 2009 at the Woodville First Ward Chapel (1555 North 700 East). The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 7:00 till 8:30 P.M. at Nalder Funeral Home (110 West Oak Street) in Shelley and Wednesday morning 9:30 till 10:40 at the church. Burial will be in the Shelley Hillcrest Cemetery.