Norrell Bowman Eliason, 87, passed away Wednesday, January 13, 2021 at his home in Bancroft, Idaho.

Norrell was born July 24, 1933 in that same home in Bancroft, Idaho.  He was the second of five children born to Joseph Godfrey and Ruby Bowman Eliason.  Norrell Eliason grew up and attended school in Bancroft, followed by a Bachelors Degree from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah and an MBA from Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts.

Norrell married Dawna Mae Mendenhall for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple on December 14, 1956.  They were blessed with two daughters and four sons.

Norrell's life was a life of service.  He started by serving the Lord when called to serve in the Northern States Mission.  He then served his country as an officer in the United States Air Force.  His career in the Air Force included assignments in Texas, Washington, Guam, Wyoming, and Massachusetts.  He filled an assignment in the Vietnam war as Chief of Supply in Thailand and then an assignment as Chief of Supply at Hill Air Force Base in Utah.  He finished his military career as Professor of Aerospace Studies at Ohio State University. Following his time in the Air Force he worked in support of small local businesses through the National Federation of Independent Business.

He championed youth by working in various youth and scouting organizations and together with his wife they helped raise 115 young men with troubled pasts.

Following his mission, he continued to serve the Lord by serving in various capacities including twice as High Priest Group Leader, 4 times in the Bishopric, as group leader to the LDS serving in Thailand and as Bishop of the Soda Springs 6 ^th ward.  He also served as a missionary in Palmyra, 3 times at Martins Cove, at the Church Historic site in Chesterfield and in the development of the cannery in Pocatello.

Norrell is survived by his wife of 65 years, Dawna and his children Tami (Dewey Cook-deceased), Mike (Mindy), Dan (Shelly), Tim, Thomas (Chels) and daughter Wendy (Blake Gardner) as well as 28 grandchildren and 34 great grandchildren.  He is also survived by his brothers Gerald and Joseph Peter (Pete) and his sister Barbara.  He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother John B.

Norrell relished time spent with family and friends and made it a priority to nurture his relationship with God.  Norrell's deep love of his family of origin and his immediate family was fundamental to his being. He often shared wonderful animated stories about his life experiences and his family history turning his own children's and grandchildren's hearts to their fathers.  Thus, ensuring his posterity acquired and cultivated their own sense of family identity along with a love and appreciation for family history.  To his surviving children, grandchildren and great grandchildren he is provider, example, mentor and hero.

There will be a viewing on Friday, January 22 from 6 pm to 7 pm at the Sims Funeral Home in Soda Springs (Masks are required).  Because of COVID the Funeral Services on January 23 are for his family only followed by internment with military honors at the Bancroft Cemetery.

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