Donald S. Hendrickson, 81, of American Falls, ID, passed away Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013. He was born Oct. 24, 1932 in Preston, ID, to Edith Esther Shaffer and Virgil Fremont Hendrickson.
He grew up in Preston and West Yellowstone, MT, areas with his sisters Afton and Nellie, and his brothers Iver and Edwin. He graduated from Preston High School in 1950. He attended Nampa Business School, completing the Telegrapher course. On Nov. 16, 1951 he married Verla Jean Moore in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. They were blessed with five children, Virgil, Marcia, Wayne Corey, Terrill and LaRene. Additional great blessings in his life, whom he was always focused on, were the grandchildren, and the most wonderful great-grandchildren. It really made his day if he got to hold one of these sleeping babies.
He was employed by Union Pacific Railroad for 46 years as a Telegrapher. He worked along the Idaho Division of Union Pacific from Weiser, ID, to Opal, WY, ultimately ending up in American Falls and finishing his career with the railroad in Aberdeen, ID. In addition to working for the railroad he always had more than one job. In 1968 Don and Verla entered the school bus transportation business. They operated Briggs & Hendrickson Transportation until 2008 and operated Hendrickson Transportation in Mountain Home, ID, from 1978 until 1994. They also operated Gemotor Lines, which was a charter bus company and he enjoyed taking groups on Temple tours to various LDS temples, to girls’ camps, scout camps, the Manti Temple Pageant and the Calgary Stampede. He was always a very hard worker and it was difficult for him the last year when he was unable to do the things he loved to do.
He was an active member of the LDS Church. He enjoyed reading, driving, hunting, camping, fishing, family, moving sprinkler pipe, driving bus, riding the train, helping others…..
He was preceded in death by Verla, the love of his life (What a joyous reunion), his son Corey, granddaughter Audra, and great-grandson Kyler, as well as his parents and two sisters.
The visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 27, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, American Falls Fourth Ward, 650 Pocatello Avenue, American Falls. The funeral will start at 1 p.m. and interment will follow at the Falls View Cemetery.
Condolences and memories may be shared at www.davisrosemortuary.com.
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