Neil M. Turner

Neil M. Turner passed away Saturday, December 23rd at EIRMC following a long illness.   

He was born January 31, 1922 in Heber City, Utah to Glen Turner and Pearl Witt Turner.  At an early age his parents divorced and he lived with his grandparents and six aunts in Heber City, Utah.  He graduated from Wasatch High School in Heber City.  While in high school he played the saxophone and played in a band.  Neil volunteered for the Army Air Corps and taught radio school while stationed in Salt Lake City. While stationed in Salt Lake City he met and married LaRee Mallory.  They were married in January, 1944.  To this union four children were born, Mont, Susan, Michael and Robert.  LaRee passed away in 1971.              

During World War II, Neil was a radio man on B29’s and was stationed in Guam. Neil flew many missions over Japan.  He received the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal.              

After the war, Neil and LaRee moved to Shelley where he went into business with his father-in-law at Mallory’s Grocery Store.  Neil and Earl Snarr ran Mallory’s for many years.  Neil was active in the Shelley Chamber of Commerce and was a volunteer fire fighter in Shelley. Neil was active in the Shelley American Legion for 60 years and served as adjutant for two years.  

In the fall of 1972, Neil married Dorothy Thompson in Elko, Nevada. Neil golfed for many years, but after his marriage to Dorothy, they bought a boat and spent many hours fishing.  

Neil is survived by his wife Dorothy, and his children, Mont (Kathy) Turner, Susan (Elwood) Wall, Robert (Lisa) Turner, and his step-children Kristine (Dan) Burch, Julie (Jim) Kienlen, and Michelle (Doug) Ball. Neil and Dorothy together had 29 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.  

Neil was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife LaRee, his son Michael and grandson Bret Wall, step-daughter Linda Flower, and stepson Thomas Thompson, M.D.    Funeral services will be held 12:00 Noon Thursday December 28th at Nalder Funeral Home (110 West Oak) in Shelley. The family will receive friends Thursday morning 10:00 till 11:45 A.M at Nalders.

Interment will be in the Shelley Hillcrest Cemetery. Military Rites will be preformed by the Stewart Hoover Post #23 of Blackfoot.