Darla Painter

On Sunday June 14, 2020, Darla LaVerne (Steele) Painter—loving wife and mother of six children—passed away in Boulder City, Nevada at the age of 78. Darla was born on August 10, 1941 in Santaquin, Utah to Joseph Vern Steele and LaVieve (Butler) Steele. She enjoyed sharing stories about her childhood and growing up in Santaquin with her brothers and sisters. On September 4, 1958, Darla married the love of her life, John Painter of Nephi, Utah, embarking upon a lifetime journey with him for nearly 62 years. Together, they raised their daughter, Terri, and their sons Kraig, Kurt, Gary, Brett, and Joel...Darla’s family was everything to her. Throughout the years, their travels took them to many interesting places like Alaska, Hawaii, California, Texas, Arizona, and Nevada. But she always looked forward to visiting her beloved hometown as often as she could.

Darla will always be remembered as the bond that held everything and everyone together in our family. Among many other titles, she was the fixer, the chef, the nurse, the counselor, and the one who kept our ever-growing clan close and connected with each other. Darla watched her family of six children expand to 23 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild—not to mention the many friends who became like family when she saw them in need of caring compassion and took them under her wing. Despite her 16 meritorious years of federal civil service, she always considered her role as mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother to be the most important and cherished calling in her life. She devoted her entire heart to that calling and gifted us with her legacy of love to carry on through the generations.

Darla was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers Mac (LaWela) Steele, Arlyn (Janice) Steele, and Clifton (Gayle) Steele; her sisters Jeannine Eva and Peggy (Val) Sorenson; her son Gary Darrell Painter, and her grandchildren Krista and Jaxon.

She is survived by her husband John Painter; her children: Terri Tidwell, Kraig (Lisa) Painter, Kurt (Tami) Painter, Brett (Veronica) Painter, and Joel Painter; her brother Larry (Beverly) Steele—as well as a multitude of beautiful grandchildren, great-grandchildren, a great-great-grandchild, nieces, nephews, and many others who were blessed to know her loving, generous spirit.

A viewing will be held on Saturday, June 20, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at Brown Family Mortuary located at 66 South 300 East, Santaquin, UT 84655. A funeral service will follow at the same location at 12:00 noon, however, the family has been advised that social distancing protocol will be in effect and the number of guests allowed in the funeral service will be limited. The interment will take place afterwards at Santaquin Cemetery at 1:00 p.m. and being an open air venue, no attendance restrictions will be in place at the interment.

The family wishes to thank Serenity Hospice of Boulder City, Nevada and especially Darla’s family, friends, and supporters who reached out to her in her final months to make her life brighter. Your gracious kindness will never be forgotten.