Ashcraft, Danney Lee

HAZELTON, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — Danney Lee Ashcraft, a 73-year-old resident of Hazelton, passed away Thursday, February 13, 2025, at Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello.

Danney was born October 6, 1951, in Prairie City, Oregon, to Dick and Alice Mecham Ashcraft. He was the third child to a sister, Wanda, a brother, Steve, and a younger sister, Bonnie. Dick had drawn out on the Veteran Federal Land Draw, and the family moved to Eden when Danney was about six years old. They lived in a small house there while Dick and his granddad built the house on the farm. Dan grew up on the family farm in the Kasota area. He attended school at Paul Elementary. He did the typical farming activities such as scouting, 4-H raising pigs, and Primary in the Emerson area. Dan graduated from Minico High School in 1969 and attended the College of Southern Idaho that fall. Then he attended Ricks College and finally Brigham Young University. He majored in Psychology with an Art minor and secondary education. His dream was to teach art.

Along the way, he met Jolene Frandsen from Roosevelt, Utah, who was attending Utah Technical College (now Utah Valley University) majoring in Business and working as a dispatcher/secretary for the Pleasant Grove Police Department. Jolene’s roommates were sisters to Dan’s roommates. One thing led to another, and the two decided to marry.

They were married on August 15, 1974, in the Salt Lake Temple, just in time for a reception, a honeymoon to the Portland World’s Fair, and school starting at BYU. Dan did his student teaching in Roosevelt, Utah, at Union High School, teaching art and Vo Ag.

Matthew D. Ashcraft was born right at the end of his student teaching, and two weeks later, the family moved back to Idaho to farm with his dad and brother. That adventure was not successful, so the decision was made to go back to Roosevelt to work in the oil fields to make enough money to finish a degree in Agronomy.

On May 19, 1977, Dan was burned in an oil well explosion. Dan ran over 5 miles in the cold early spring night with third-degree burns over 40 percent of his body to find help. He was life-flighted to the University of Utah Burn Center. He was supposed to stay about eight weeks but was released in about four.

On August 2, 1977, Wes Lee Ashcraft was born in Roosevelt, and at two weeks old, Dan was released enough to attend B.Y.U. under highly restrictive physical conditions.

In April 1978, Dan graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Psychology, Agronomy, and Secondary Education and a minor in Art. He walked across the stage with a large sombrero and Jobe’s stockings.

On August 22, 1978, Gavin Dale Ashcraft was born in Rupert. December 11, 1978. Gavin died from sudden infant death syndrome. He is buried in the Paul Cemetery.

The family moved to Hazelton, Idaho. November 20, 1980, Rylee Jo Ashcraft was born in Twin Falls.

Dan worked many ag-related jobs throughout the Magic Valley. About 1990, Dan’s dad decided to retire and asked Dan if he wanted to buy the family farm. Dan was excited to farm the place the best way he knew how. He and Jolene worked hard to pay Dick back for the land and the equipment.

Jolene retired from teaching school in 2016, and Danney retired in 2017. They were able to go on a few well-deserved vacations, including an LDS Church History Tour, an inland and cruising Alaskan vacation, Hawaii, a Rocky Mountaineer train trip through Canada, and a 10-day driving trip to Edmonton, Canada, to visit the grandson, Zack Ashcraft, who was serving a mission to Edmonton, Canada.

Danney and Jolene have six grandchildren: Zack, Audrey, Lily, Rory Ashcraft, Marida Ashcraft, and Von Chatterton. Dan always called them his Pearls of Great Price.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, February 28, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Hazelton Ward, located at 531 Middleton Ave. in Hazelton, Idaho, with Bishop Derek Romer officiating. Burial will follow at the Paul Cemetery.

Family and friends will be received from 5 until 7 p.m. Thursday, February 27, at Rasmussen-Wilson Funeral Home, located at 1350 East 16th Street, in Burley, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. before the funeral at the church.

A live webcast will be available and maintained at www.rasmussenwilson.com