Donna Penrod

Donna Cottle Penrod

April 28, 1927 ~ July 31, 2016

A very special lady, Donna LaRue Rigby Cottle Penrod, passed away on Sunday, July 31, 2016 from complications of pneumonia.

She was born April 28, 1927 in Hooper, Utah to Wilmer Raymond Rigby and Lida Elnora Wadsworth Rigby. She was raised in Sublett and Grace, Idaho. She graduated from Grace High School in 1945 then returned to Hooper and lived there all of her adult life.

She married William Alexander Cottle on August 27, 1946. They were later sealed in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on August 24, 1948.

She was employed at the Clearfield Naval Base, Hooper Elementary School, Dallas Green Farm Service, and later enjoyed working at the Cinedome 70 Theater, Riverdale Drive-in, and Dunkley Music. Her favorite job by far was being a stay-at-home mom to their six children.

She was a dedicated member of the LDS Church and served many years in ward and stake leadership callings. She followed the Saviors example and devoted her life to serving others.

She was a beautiful seamstress and spent many a late night sewing for her children. She was a member of the Hooper Women’s Club for nearly 60 years.

Her husband Will passed away on November 15, 1973 from complications of cancer. On November 20, 1986 she married Richard (Dick) Penrod in the Ogden LDS Temple. He was a member of the 4R’s Quartet. She enjoyed many years of traveling and performing with the 4R’s. From 1995-1996 they served an LDS mission in Nauvoo, Illinois.

She enjoyed music her entire life. At the age of 3, it was discovered that she could play the piano by ear. She played the drums in her school band “The Modernaires” and also in a family band. She was asked to play the piano and organ at countless funeral services over the years. She played the accordion most her life and performed at hundreds of events. She has been a member of the McKay-Dee Hospital Piano Guild for 10 years. This allowed her to frequently perform in the hospital lobby which she enjoyed very much. She enjoyed spending the winter months at their home in St. George and summer vacations at their Bear Lake cabin.

She is survived by her husband Richard, her six children: Joanne (Lyle) Bennett, Renae (Roger) Creager, Shirley (Reid) Chambers, Marilyn (Rob) Peterson, Blair Cottle (Chris Morris) and Blaine Cottle, two step children: Kris (Rob) Vogt and Rick (Shauna) Penrod. She is also survived by 28 grandchildren, 62 great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild with two more on the way for a grand total of 10,000 descendants. Well, at least it seems that way sometimes. Also surviving are siblings: June (Jay, deceased) Turner, Maurine (Richard) Myer and Harold (Geniel) Rigby, many nieces, nephews, cousins and numerous dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings: Max (Faye) Rigby, Norma (Gene) Arave and Blaine Rigby, grandson Lonnie Bennett and great granddaughter Kalista Boren.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday August 6th, 11 a.m. at the Hooper North LDS Chapel, 5000 S 5900 W, Hooper. The family will meet with friends on Friday from 5:30 pm to 8 pm at the LDS Chapel and on Saturday from 9:30 am to 10:30 am prior to the service. The family respectfully requests that on Friday, 5 pm to 5:30 pm be reserved for extended family only.

The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at the McKay-Dee Hospital on the Second Floor Surgical Wing for all of their loving care, especially Maranda and Megan.