Delbert Rayburn Niblett

Delbert Rayburn Niblett, “Del”, passed away in his Boise home on April 6, 2024 at the age of 86, surrounded by his six children, and holding the hand of his beloved wife Reah.  

Del was born on March 8, 1938, in Vanadium, New Mexico to Oliver Holmes Niblett and Mary Margaret Lee. He graduated from Ysleta High School in Texas in 1955 and attended college at Texas Western, before he turned his educational pursuits to becoming an electrician. 

Del met his sweetheart Reah in El Paso, Texas when Reah came to work there for the summer. They were married November 26, 1957 in the Mesa, Arizona Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Shortly after their marriage they moved to Alaska, where Del completed his electrical apprenticeship and began his career as an electrician. He and Reah spent 20 years in Alaska and raised their six children in the home Del built for them in Anchorage. Their marriage of 67 years was one of great love and devotion, of warm companionship and deep commitment.

Del had a great love for the outdoors. The moose and caribou he hunted each fall were the main source of meat for his family for nearly all the years they lived in Alaska. Many are the stories that could be told of his hunting adventures. He always took his boys, and on several trips included the entire family. With all that happened on these hunting trips, we feel lucky that some of his sons lived to adulthood! Del loved to fish as a boy and continued that love his entire life, taking his parents, his brothers, his children, and anyone who would go with him. He always seemed to catch the most fish no matter who he was with.

Del and Reah were very active in their faith. Del had a great love for God and His Savior Jesus Christ and lived his life with a willingness to serve wherever he was called. He served in many leadership roles in the church throughout his life. He was called as Branch President to lead what was then known as the “Alaska Bush Branch”. He was the spiritual leader for small family groups of Saints that lived in remote areas throughout the state. 

Del was active in leading many scouting programs and was loved by the youth for his easy-going, fun personality. After moving to Idaho in 1978, Del oversaw the Wood Badge program- a training program for adult scout leaders. He was also awarded the Silver Beaver, scouting's highest honor on the council level. He and Reah served a year-long mission in Salt Lake City, Utah working at the Family History Center, a life-long goal that they thoroughly enjoyed fulfilling.

In his later years in Idaho, Del began to suffer with fibromyalgia and severe arthritis. He spent much of his last 20 years in pain, but he never complained. When you asked him how he was doing, his reply was always, “Never better!” 

Del and Reah were blessed with a large posterity and Del was always delighted with visits from his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Del is survived by his wife Reah, his six children Debbie Farrell (Steve), Ron Niblett (Lori), Joe Niblett (Sharena), Dave Niblett (Becky), Mary Howell-Fowler (Richard) and Brian Niblett (Christy), twenty-four grandchildren and thirty-eight great grandchildren.

A viewing will be held on Saturday, April 13 at 9:00 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meeting house located at 3555 South Cole Road in Boise. Funeral services will follow at 9:30. Del will be laid to rest in the Meridian, Idaho cemetery.