Galen Kay Gneiting, 56 of Felt, died December 10, 2009 at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls. He was born December 11, 1952 at Rigby, Idaho to Merlin LaVar Gneiting and Ruby Evalyn Garner Gneiting. Galen grew up in Monteview, Idaho and attended West Jefferson High School. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served a mission for the church to Ontario, Canada 1972-1974. He married the love of his life with the beautiful long red hair, Verna Joyce Hill of Rexburg, on August 16,1974 in the Idaho Falls LDS temple. They lived in Rexburg for more than thirty years with one year in Boise after the Teton Dam Flood. Presently living at Felt, Teton Valley, for the past year and a half, building their dream home. He started his own business, Gneiting Construction, at an early age. He was an active member of his church, serving in many callings. He enjoyed many hobbies especially outdoors with his family - hunting, fishing, camping, dirt biking, four wheeling and pawn shopping. His grandchildren were a light and joy in his life. He adored being known as "Papa Galen" by his six grandchildren. He loved sharing and riding the four wheeler and playing with them. Also sharing anything and everything with his friends. He loved traveling with his family and wife to various locations such as Alaska for king and halibut fishing, Hawaii, Mexico, California, Oregon Coast bringing much joy to all. He and Verna traveled to Ethiopia to do humanitarian work which changed his life. Galen and Verna purchased a beach house in Ecuador and loved spending time there. He was working hard to learn Spanish diligently to be able to communicate with his colleagues, friends and especially his daughter Penny, who is fluent in Spanish. He worked hard, played hard and lived life to its fullest.

Galen is survived by his wife Verna Gneiting of Felt, daughter; Lori Ann (Trevor) Miller and their children Braden, Gavin, Dylan and Katelyn of Eagle Mountain, Utah, daughter; Penny (Tony) Stocks of Rochester, Minnesota, son; Craig G. (Brigitte) Gneiting and their children, Kynden and Ashton of Rexburg.

Also surviving are Galen's brothers and sisters; Eugene LaVar (Janis) Gneiting of Aransas Pass, Texas, Evalyn Mabel (Howard) Meiers of Buhl, Idaho, Bonita (Greg) Richey of Shelley, ID, Tracy Gneiting of Shelley, ID, Jan (Micheal) Luther of Matthews NC, and Hal M. (Kaylene) Gneiting of Monteview.

He is preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 16, 2009, at the Tetonia LDS Chapel with Bishop Brent Robson officiating. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Flamm Funeral Home in Rexburg and Wednesday from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services. Burial will be in the Cache-Clawson Cemetery.