Darrol Dean Gardner

Darrol Dean Gardner, 90, of Ammon, Idaho, passed away March 5, 2026, at MorningStar Senior Living Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Darrol was born January 10, 1936, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Lawrence and Grace Gardner. He grew up near the Idaho Falls Temple and attended Idaho Falls schools. At age 17, Darrol asked his father if he could join the Army, and was told that he could. On February 3, 1953, he entered the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne. He was trained to jump out of airplanes at Fort Benning, Georgia. The Korean War was going on at this time, but he did not have to leave the U.S. In the Fall of 1954, while home on leave, he met Irene Croft from Iona, Idaho. He wrote to her until March of 1955 when he came home on leave. They were married in the Idaho Falls Temple on March 23, 1955. They moved to Fayetteville, North Carolina, where Darrol was stationed in the Army. Darrol was released from the military February 2, 1956.

The couple first made their home in Pocatello, Idaho, where Darrol attended Idaho State University, later making their home in Idaho Falls. Five children were born to this union: Cheryl, Rodney, Douglas, Scott, and Todd. Darrol’s major employment was in law enforcement, first as an Idaho Falls policeman, and then as a state parole officer. The family moved to Iona where Darrol was called to be the Bishop of the Iona First Ward LDS Church. Darrol was promoted to Idaho State Director of Parole and Probation in 1978, and the family moved to Boise, Idaho. A major riot occurred at the Idaho State Penitentiary in 1980, and Governor John Evans called upon Darrol to take charge of the prison as the Warden. In 1984, very close to retirement age, Darrol took an administrative assignment with the Department of Corrections in Idaho Falls. This made it possible to return to their home in Iona. Darrol retired from the Department of Corrections in 1986 at age 50.

Darrol and Irene served four missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1998, the couple began spending winters in St. George, Utah, and moved from Iona to Ammon in 2004.

Darrol is survived by his wife, Elma Irene Croft of Ammon, ID; son, Douglas (Valerie) Gardner of Idaho Falls, ID, daughter, Cheryl (Torrey) Bird of Nampa, ID, son, Rodney (Susan) Gardner of Idaho Falls, ID, son, Scott (Mandi) Gardner of Idaho Falls, ID, son, Todd (Tiffany) Gardner of Eugene, OR; 14 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Grace Gardner; brother, Richard Gardner; sister, Dorothy Green, sister, Karen Smith; father-in-law, Eldon Croft; and mother-in-law, Elma Croft.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at the Iona 1st Ward, 5169 Denning Avenue, with Bishop Trent R. Dabell officiating. The family will visit with friends from 10-10:45 a.m. prior to services. Burial will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery where Military Honors will be performed by the Bonneville County Veterans Team and Idaho Honor Guard.