David Stephen Messinger (74) passed away Tuesday, January 31, 2017 in Rexburg, Idaho surrounded by his wife and children. He was born September 18, 1942 in Salt Lake City, Utah. His parents were Wallace Charles Messinger and Ethel Ida Van Setters.


David grew up on an orchard farm in the East Mill Creek area of Holladay, Utah. He acquired his amateur radio and private pilots licenses, and worked at Solitude Ski Resort while attending Olympus High School. These early interests fed into a lifetime of employment, favorite pastimes, and a love and reverence for the outdoors. After graduation he attended the University of Utah and spent summers working for the Utah Highway Department and later the U.S. Forest Service in the Salmon National Forest of Central Idaho. In 1964 he married Karleen Detrick and together they had one daughter, Theresa Anne Messinger.


In 1969 David graduated from Utah State University with a degree in Civil Engineering. That same year, he married Lana Dee Keirnes in Salmon, Idaho. David's career with the US Forest Service lead them to Vernal, Utah, St. Anthony, Idaho, and Ketchikan, Alaska. In 1974 they returned to St. Anthony, Idaho. where David created Forest Engineering, Inc. During this time, he also taught Engineering classes at Ricks College. In 1991 he was recruited by an Engineering company at the Hanford Nuclear site in Richland, Washington. From this location, David was contracted by the U.S. Government as a Chief Engineer for many natural disaster sites across the nation. He retired with his wife, Lana, in 2011 and returned to their home of St. Anthony, Idaho.

David was known throughout his life for his natural intelligence, his hard-work ethics, and his thirst for knowledge. He had a fierce loyalty to his family. His grandchildren referred to him as "google in man form". He was a skilled pilot, advanced class amature radio operator and outdoorsman.

David had an enduring love for the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He taught in the High Priests group and served as an ordinance worker at the Rexburg Temple for four years.

David was preceded in death by his parents and sister Nola Rae Messinger Hale. He is survived by his wife Lana, their children Tess (Jack) Clearman, Benjamin David (Jamie) Messinger, Donna Brandilyn Messinger, Jacob Wallace (Bonnie) Messinger, Jenna Marie (Mikael) Crapo, and Heather Louise (Jason) Grover, and sixteen grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters Jean (Darrel) Deem, Lois Ann Messinger, Judy Mae Christenson, and Esther Susan Peterson.

Funeral services will be Monday, February 6, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. in the St. Anthony LDS Stake Center (247 E. 4th N.) The family will receive friends Sunday from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at Bert Flamm Mortuary in St. Anthony (581 E. 1st N.) and Monday from 10:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. at the church. Burial will be in the Pineview Cemetery at Ashton,ID.