Donald Hayden Runkle

Donald “Don” Hayden Runkle 79, of Twin Falls Idaho passed Sunday August 24th 2025 surrounded by family. Don was born August 4th 1946 in Santa Cruz, California. He is survived by his three children Ryan Runkle, Kristina Runkle, Ivy Hodge (M) Deric Hodge. His five grandchildren Jesse Runkle, Shantya Runkle George (M) Allen George, Mya Runkle, Olivia Runkle, Jude Hodge and one great-grandchild. He always told his kids and grandkids they could do anything they put their minds to. You were loved so deeply and will be missed just as deeply Dad, Grandpa, and best friend.

Don crossed over that bridge between here and the after surrounded by family, listening to music with MASH still playing on TV, and draped in love as the sun began to set.

He was a mountain of a man, who flipped the bird as an I love you, loved the sound of laughter, and brought his own breed of kindness into the world. He will be remembered as a practical joker who put weights in presents. A gentle soul who baked for people he barely knew just because he could and did every year even though he swore he wouldn’t. A cheerleader for his grandkids in all their endeavors, be it cooking, writing, climbing, or med science. He was stubborn beyond reason, had a fiery temper, but would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it.

He loved spending time with his family, cooking, playing games way past bedtime, and taking his granddaughters fishing and to the drag races. We will see glimmers of him in the scales of bass and dancing campfires, in apple pie and Christmas cookies, games of phase 10 and scattagories, and in the smell of nitrous.

I love you bye bye