1942
Don
2023
Don G Barringer
May 17, 1942 — January 17, 2023
Donald Gilbert Barringer passed away at his home surrounded by his family in Smithfield, Utah on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 after a short battle with cancer. Don was a young and vibrant 80 years old. Don was born on May 17, 1942 in Whittier, California to Samuel and Eleanor Barringer. He was the youngest of three children. His family moved to Grass Valley, California in 1950. There, he excelled in school and baseball, learned the value of hard work, had a deep love for animals and developed so many of the wonderful attributes we knew and loved in him today. Don graduated from Nevada Union High School in 1960, he loved his friends, and so many loved him, it was here Don first noticed a cute little cheerleader by the name of Norma Lee Hutchins. Don and Norma were married on December 1st 1963 and created a beautiful life together, being inseparable until Norma’s death in 2015.
From their marriage, came three daughters and later a son was adopted into their family. Life was exciting and always changing, if you know Don, you know he never sat still for long. His ambitious work life started as a stock boy for Purity Markets while attending college at San Jose State. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in speech therapy from Chico State. He later got his masters degree from Utah State University, finally landing in Auburn, California. While in Auburn he taught at the school for the deaf and truly excelled and developed his life long passion as an educator. In 1977 Don and Norma joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which brought him so much joy. He served in many callings over the years. He loved serving in the primary and as a Young Single Adult Bishop.
After joining the church, Don and Norma decided to move to Marion, Montana. In Montana, Don was a residential contractor and developer and dabbled in cattle ranching. He also tried his hand in the restaurant business, owned a window and door store and served his community often. His family loved their years in Montana, and have many fond memories of the time they spent there. In 1987, the economy was dismal and Don decided to get back to his true love of education. He moved his family for the last time to Smithfield, Utah. It was at that time Don went back to school at Utah State University and received his Doctorate in Communicative Disorders in 1993. He worked for the university writing grants and developing programs for Sky High Institute. He loved his job at Sky High, retiring in 2003. Never sitting still, Don with his son in law Bruce created Wapiti Development in 1996. Together they built many single-family homes in Hyrum Utah and developed Bridgerland Meadows Townhomes in Logan Utah. This kept Don occupied until 2015 when he really did decide to retire.
In 2017, Don was lucky to find a wonderful woman in Kristan Engstrom. Kris knew Don and Norma from high school. They formed a beautiful friendship and Kris being the brave woman she is agreed to come to Utah, marry Don and endure all the crazy, loud, family gatherings and freezing cold winters. They spent their time traveling in their trailer and spending winters in warmer weather. They also enjoyed spending time with their children and grandchildren.
To quote his grandson Austin, Grandpa was an eternal optimist. He always looked for the best in people and saw good in everyone. He loved animals and took extra care to help foster dogs and cats. He spent countless hours donating time and work to the Cache Humane Society and the Cache Community Food Pantry. He taught his grandchildren to work hard and serve others. He had a lifelong love of learning and education was extremely important to him. He wanted each of his grandchildren to have the opportunity to attend college if they so desired. We call it Grandpa’s Scholarship Fund and through this he was able to fulfill that desire for most of the grandkids! His daughters will tell you that he was a great dad but he was an amazing grandpa!
Don is preceded in death by his wife Norma, his parents Samuel and Eleanor Barringer. His older brother Sammy who passed away as an infant. His sister Betty and brother-in-law Fred Orazalli, and his nephew Thomas Orazalli. He is survived by his wife Kristan of Smithfield, Utah. His daughters, Contance (Bruce) Birky of Logan, Utah. Lori (Ross) Zilles of Weston, Idaho. Amie (Scott) Snow of Phoenix, Arizona. Son Robert “Val” (Sandra) Olsen of Greenwood, Arkansas. He is also survived by 17 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. His sister in law Kathryn Rommel and her 3 children. As well as Kris’s son Eric “Chip” Wilson and four grandchildren and 1 great grandchild who he loved as his own.
We will gather to celebrate his life at a later date as it was his wish to Have graveside services when the weather was warm and sunny!
Don found friends in most people he met. He had the best smile that would light up a room. If you want to do something special for Don in remembrance, help someone in need, pay for someone’s groceries, donate to the Cache Valley Humane Society or 4 Paws Rescue. Don lived to serve and help people, the best way to remember him is to live like He did.
https://cachehumane.org/donate
https://fourpaws.org/donate/
From their marriage, came three daughters and later a son was adopted into their family. Life was exciting and always changing, if you know Don, you know he never sat still for long. His ambitious work life started as a stock boy for Purity Markets while attending college at San Jose State. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in speech therapy from Chico State. He later got his masters degree from Utah State University, finally landing in Auburn, California. While in Auburn he taught at the school for the deaf and truly excelled and developed his life long passion as an educator. In 1977 Don and Norma joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which brought him so much joy. He served in many callings over the years. He loved serving in the primary and as a Young Single Adult Bishop.
After joining the church, Don and Norma decided to move to Marion, Montana. In Montana, Don was a residential contractor and developer and dabbled in cattle ranching. He also tried his hand in the restaurant business, owned a window and door store and served his community often. His family loved their years in Montana, and have many fond memories of the time they spent there. In 1987, the economy was dismal and Don decided to get back to his true love of education. He moved his family for the last time to Smithfield, Utah. It was at that time Don went back to school at Utah State University and received his Doctorate in Communicative Disorders in 1993. He worked for the university writing grants and developing programs for Sky High Institute. He loved his job at Sky High, retiring in 2003. Never sitting still, Don with his son in law Bruce created Wapiti Development in 1996. Together they built many single-family homes in Hyrum Utah and developed Bridgerland Meadows Townhomes in Logan Utah. This kept Don occupied until 2015 when he really did decide to retire.
In 2017, Don was lucky to find a wonderful woman in Kristan Engstrom. Kris knew Don and Norma from high school. They formed a beautiful friendship and Kris being the brave woman she is agreed to come to Utah, marry Don and endure all the crazy, loud, family gatherings and freezing cold winters. They spent their time traveling in their trailer and spending winters in warmer weather. They also enjoyed spending time with their children and grandchildren.
To quote his grandson Austin, Grandpa was an eternal optimist. He always looked for the best in people and saw good in everyone. He loved animals and took extra care to help foster dogs and cats. He spent countless hours donating time and work to the Cache Humane Society and the Cache Community Food Pantry. He taught his grandchildren to work hard and serve others. He had a lifelong love of learning and education was extremely important to him. He wanted each of his grandchildren to have the opportunity to attend college if they so desired. We call it Grandpa’s Scholarship Fund and through this he was able to fulfill that desire for most of the grandkids! His daughters will tell you that he was a great dad but he was an amazing grandpa!
Don is preceded in death by his wife Norma, his parents Samuel and Eleanor Barringer. His older brother Sammy who passed away as an infant. His sister Betty and brother-in-law Fred Orazalli, and his nephew Thomas Orazalli. He is survived by his wife Kristan of Smithfield, Utah. His daughters, Contance (Bruce) Birky of Logan, Utah. Lori (Ross) Zilles of Weston, Idaho. Amie (Scott) Snow of Phoenix, Arizona. Son Robert “Val” (Sandra) Olsen of Greenwood, Arkansas. He is also survived by 17 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. His sister in law Kathryn Rommel and her 3 children. As well as Kris’s son Eric “Chip” Wilson and four grandchildren and 1 great grandchild who he loved as his own.
We will gather to celebrate his life at a later date as it was his wish to Have graveside services when the weather was warm and sunny!
Don found friends in most people he met. He had the best smile that would light up a room. If you want to do something special for Don in remembrance, help someone in need, pay for someone’s groceries, donate to the Cache Valley Humane Society or 4 Paws Rescue. Don lived to serve and help people, the best way to remember him is to live like He did.
https://cachehumane.org/donate
https://fourpaws.org/donate/
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Don G Barringer, please visit our flower store.
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