Rita Burtenshaw

1932 - 2018

Rita Jean Cox Burtenshaw, 85, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, passed away April 9, 2018, at Teton Post Acute Care & Rehabilitation.

Rita was born Sept. 23, 1932, in Shelley, Idaho, to Charles Robert Cox and Hannah Dora Blake Cox. She grew up and attended schools in Shelley.

On Sept. 4, 1948, she married Darrel Leroy Burtenshaw in Bingham County. To this union were born nine children: Bryan, Barbara, Bonita, Brenda, Bruce, Brent, Byron, Bryce and Beverly. Rita and Darrel made their home in Idaho Falls, where Rita was a loving wife, mother and homemaker. She took care of and raised three granddaughters and a neighbor boy. She had also worked as a dialysis technician.

She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served as ward librarian. She enjoyed games and puzzle books.

Rita is survived by her daughters, Barbara Burtenshaw, Bonita Hilton and Brenda (Glenn) Harker, all of Idaho Falls; sons, Bruce (Kim) Burtenshaw, of Waihee, Hawaii, Brent Burtenshaw and Byron Burtenshaw, both of Idaho Falls, and Bryce (Natalie) Burtenshaw, of Ririe, Idaho; daughter, Beverly Burtenshaw, of Idaho Falls; sister, Betty Lott, of Sutherlin, Oregon; 22 grandchildren, 51 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Hannah Cox; husband, Darrel Leroy Burtenshaw; son, Bryan Burtenshaw; sisters, Grace Caldwell Clifford, Elaine Keele, Roberta Geisler, Lela Clifford and Pearl Cox; and brothers, James "Chuck," Lloyd, Verl and Vernard Cox.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 14, at Idaho Falls LDS Kearney 2nd Ward, 1860 Kearney St., with Bishop Brett Memmott officiating. The family will visit with friends Friday from 6:30-8 p.m. at Wood Funeral Home East Side, 963 S. Ammon Road, and Saturday from 10-10:45 a.m. prior to services at the church. Burial will be in Ririe-Shelton Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.woodfuneralhome.com.