Idaho
An Idaho Falls woman was found dead near Heise in 1966. Here's what the investigation revealed. – East Idaho News
IDAHO FALLS — A “coroner’s inquest” ruled how an Idaho Falls woman died near Heise in 1966.
The story of Mrs. C.L. (Gwen) Englund, 49, was featured in our weekly Looking Back column, which looks back on what life was like during different periods in east Idaho history.
Man who believed he was a ‘divine healer’ taken to asylum and woman found dead near Heise
Who was Gwen Englund?
Englund was born in Lewisville. When she was “a small child,” her family moved to Idaho Falls, where she grew up and graduated from Idaho Falls High School. She married C. Leone Englund of Rexburg in 1939.
She was described as an “ardent fisherman” and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“Mrs. Englund was quite well-known in this area, having many relatives and friends,” The Rigby Star wrote on Sept. 29, 1966.
Englund’s body discovered
Englund’s body was found on Sept. 24, 1966, around 5:30 p.m. Her body was found by her camper five miles east of Heise, and the Bonneville County sheriff said a .22 caliber rifle was found nearby.
She was shot in the chest. Law enforcement were trying to determine whether someone shot her or if it was self-inflicted wound.
The Rigby Star originally reported that fisherman Jess V. Schow found the body. But Schow later testified that two Salt Lake City men, Brigham Olsen and Guy Briggs, had found the body, and then he went to investigate.
Investigation leads to answers
An inquest was held on Nov. 30, 1966, but nothing about it was reported until Dec. 5, 1966. At that time, it became known that Bonneville County Coroner Hazel McGaffey ruled Englund’s death an accident.
A handful of people testified about their part in the investigation of Englund’s death, including Deputy Sheriff James Thomas, Sheriff Lester G. Hopkins, and state patrolmen Sgt. Richard Foote and Ronald Ropp.
“The officers said the FBI reports indicate the muzzle was about an inch from her outer garments when the rifle was fired,” the Idaho Falls Post Register wrote. “They said the weapon was new, that it had not been properly assembled, but that it had been assembled well enough to fire.”
Dr. D.C. Stoddard, her attending physician, said Englund “had never indicated suicidal tendencies.” Other testimonies also explained that it wasn’t unusual for Englund to go fishing alone. Englund’s husband “declined to testify.”
Prosecuting attorney Jack G. Voshell handled the questioning, and Mrs. McGaffey presided. John W. Morgan, John Rogers, Mrs. Walter Kay, Harold Davis, Mrs. Lester Lux, Richard McColley, and Ester Anderson served on the jury.
Funeral services for Englund were held at the Wood Chapel of the Pines, and interment was held at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Idaho Falls.
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The results are in for the Idaho Lottery’s draw games on Monday, April 20, 2026.
Here’s a look at winning numbers for each game on April 20.
Winning Powerball numbers from April 20 drawing
09-17-36-47-64, Powerball: 26, Power Play: 3
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 20 drawing
Day: 9-5-5
Night: 1-3-9
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 20 drawing
Day: 9-3-4-7
Night: 6-9-2-8
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto America numbers from April 20 drawing
05-07-31-41-43, Star Ball: 07, ASB: 02
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Idaho Cash numbers from April 20 drawing
05-12-27-33-45
Check Idaho Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from April 20 drawing
19-37-40-41-53, Bonus: 02
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Idaho Lottery drawings held ?
- Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3: 1:59 p.m. (Day) and 7:59 p.m. (Night) MT daily.
- Pick 4: 1:59 p.m. (Day) and 7:59 p.m. (Night) MT daily.
- Lucky For Life: 8:35 p.m. MT Monday and Thursday.
- Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- 5 Star Draw: 8 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Idaho Cash: 8 p.m. MT daily.
- Millionaire for Life: 9:15 p.m. MT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.
I remember watching a documentary about Idaho’s wildlands. A narrator said there were probably many parts of the state where no human being has ever set foot. I believe that, but I stay relatively close to the highways. If I were 30 years younger, I would probably enjoy exploring the back country, but today, unless a plane takes me in and out, it’s not happening. I can’t say definitively that there is one spot that I find better than others. We’re surrounded by beautiful terrain, however. One place keeps calling me back.
Like a Scene from a Legendary Movie
When I go over the mountain between Gooding and Fairfield, I take time to stop at the overlook above the Camas Prairie. It reminds me of a scene in Exodus, where the Paul Newman character takes an American woman to look across a flat plain leading to Mount Tabor. He explains that’s the site where Deborah gathered her armies. It makes me feel there is something godly about the Camas Prairie. I keep going back to this spot. Sometimes I take along a folding chair and sit and look at the world below.
Slow Down and See the Work of the Creator
Fairfield may be nothing more than a blip as people speed down Route 20, but it’s their loss. On the other side of the highway is some of the prettiest country in Idaho. It’s going to be a lot less lush this spring, but drought conditions haven’t been nearly as severe in the central highlands. But if I’m granted a few more years by the Almighty, I plan to see the prairie for many more springs.
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Gallery Credit: Mateo, 103.5 KISS FM
The results are in for the Idaho Lottery’s draw games on Sunday, April 19, 2026.
Here’s a look at winning numbers for each game on April 19.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 19 drawing
Day: 9-5-1
Night: 8-0-6
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 19 drawing
Day: 2-7-0-3
Night: 4-3-3-3
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Idaho Cash numbers from April 19 drawing
15-28-31-38-45
Check Idaho Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from April 19 drawing
32-42-52-53-55, Bonus: 05
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Idaho Lottery drawings held ?
- Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3: 1:59 p.m. (Day) and 7:59 p.m. (Night) MT daily.
- Pick 4: 1:59 p.m. (Day) and 7:59 p.m. (Night) MT daily.
- Lucky For Life: 8:35 p.m. MT Monday and Thursday.
- Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- 5 Star Draw: 8 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Idaho Cash: 8 p.m. MT daily.
- Millionaire for Life: 9:15 p.m. MT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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