Darrell Benton Banta, 92, died Saturday, February 4, 2012 at his home. He was born July 25, 1919 in Goldburg, ID, to Floyd and Ruth Mavity Banta. He attended schools in Salmon and Leadore graduating from Leadore.

He served as a sergeant in the US Army Air Corps from 1943 - 1946. His job was servicing and repairing airplanes to return them to combat.

On August 31, 1944 he married his true love Phyllis May Wellard in Dillon Montana. Together they raised six children.

After the military he worked as a farm laborer until he went to school on a GI Bill to become a mechanic, even though he had been successful doing this in the military. He worked for several years for Ford Tractor Co. and JI Case Inc. in Rexburg. He then went to work for Ken Huskinson and Sons, until he retired. Then when boredom set in he inspected potato seed for the state of Idaho for another 4 springs, finally retiring for good, at the age of 78. But he still worked as a neighborhood mechanic when asked. His life was his family he believed in hard work and in doing the job right the first time.

He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Banta and their children; Delilha Marie Colson of Anacortes, WA, Diana (Doug) Frentz of Mt. Vernon, WA, Janice (Wayne) Weekes of Emmett, ID, Jeff (Janet) Banta of Rexburg, ID and Sharon (Anthony) Wilson of Rexburg, ID, a daughter-in-law, Ann Banta of Ephraim, UT as well as 26 grandchildren, 56 great grandchildren and 16 great great grandchildren. He is survived by a brother Larry (Jeanie) Banta.

He is preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, a son, Brent Banta and son-in-law, Tom Colson.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 10, 2012 at the Salem LDS Chapel. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday evening at Flamm Funeral Home and again from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment will be in the Wilford Cemetery.