Don James

Don was born on July 29, 1933. He was the 7th and last child born to Abe and Rose Hirschi James. He was born in the family home on East First North and 42 years later would design and help build a home on the same street. He was living there at the time of his death.

The family moved to Blackfoot where his father opened the Apple Store on Main Street. It was a grocery store where they also sold Indian novelties.

Don started working at a young age. He was a skate boy at the Deleta, delivered telegrams, cut and picked spuds, rogued peas and delivered the Blackfoot Daily Bulletins. He worked at the seed house where he could lift the 100lb sacks of seed. This was the start of many years of hard satisfying work. He never learned to sit around.

Don graduated from Blackfoot High School in 1952 and later studied at ISU and Ricks College.

In January of 1953 he married Margaret Anne Goodwin in the Idaho Falls Temple. In December of 1953 their first child Dennis was born. In February 1954 he was drafted into the US Army. He served at Camp Chafee, Arkansas, Fort Hood, Texas, and finished at Fort Polk, Louisiana where a second son, Russell was born. Later they would have their first and only daughter Kimberly in Blackfoot and their third on, Michael in Rexburg.

While living in St. Anthony he was ordained a Seventy by LeGrande Richards. This led to a special assignment to conduct Sunday services at West Thumb, Lake Lodge and West Yellowstone area with his family. He loved being a Seventy.

Don worked in the grocery business with his Dad, brothers Vea and Glen and brother-in-law Howard Gibson. Eventually he would become meat manager for Safeway and then Broulims. He loved his co-workers. He retired from Broulims and really appreciated those years of work.

Don enjoyed working in his yard and growing raspberries and a huge garden.

In 2003 Don and Margaret were called to the Australia, Brisbane Mission. They served in beautiful Rockhampton and were then transferred outback to a small mining town Mt. Isa where Don was set apart as Branch President. They especially loved the young Elders, their two mission presidents, and their Branch families. Don was noted for carrying lollies (candy) in his pockets for the young and not so young.

After returning home Don and Margaret served 13 years as Stake Baptism Coordinators. Later he worked 10 years at the Rexburg Temple and several years doing sealing with the Browning's and Westons.

All Don’s life he loved anything with a moto, scooters, motorcycles, lawn mowers, and especially his many cars.

Don is survived by his wife Margaret, children Dennis (Linda) James, Russel (Lorrie) James, Kimberly Cordingley, and Michael (Maria) James, 17 grandchildren, 42 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. Sister-in-laws Donna James, Becky Lim and brother-in-law Gale Lim. He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, and great grandson, Corbyn Cordingley.

The family appreciated the many years of care by Dr. Curtis, Dr. Bladder and the love shown to Don by Brie Hospice.

Funeral service will be held on Thursday, August 27, 2026 at Rexburg North Stake Center at 11:00 am a visitation will be held prior to service from 10:00 am till 10:45 am.