21-year-old Rigby man with ‘heart of gold’ continues to bless others after unexpected death

RIGBY — A Rigby man remembered for his selfless life was able to bless others through organ donation.

Noel Rios (real name Titus Freeman) passed away on the night of October 19, 2025 at the age of 21. He was riding his dirt bike (which he has been riding since he was 3 years old) when he was involved in a collision with a truck half a mile from his home in Rigby.

“He most likely died on impact,” Freeman’s aunt, Janice Bell, told EastIdahoNews.com. “He was wearing a helmet and all his riding gear, but that didn’t help.”

Freeman celebrated his 21st birthday on October 13, a few days before the accident. Bell said her nephew’s best friend, who is in his late 60s, told him that since Freeman turned 21, he needed to get his “big boy license.”

“He took Friday off to go get his new driver’s license…and he thought (and said to his mother), ‘I’m an adult now and I should be a donor.’ He hadn’t been a donor before,” Bell explained. “When he went there (to renew his license), he became a donor. It was a Friday and he was killed on a Sunday.”

After the accident, Freeman was rushed to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, where his family was told he would not survive. The hospital learned he was a donor and he was taken to the intensive care unit and placed on life support.

On Oct. 22, Freeman, who was declared brain dead, was wheeled into the operating room in a wheelchair as family, friends, colleagues and hospital staff lined the hallways during a donor honor walk.

Freeman’s decision to become a donor allowed him to save the lives of seven others.

“His heart went to another 21-year-old boy from Utah,” Bell said, adding that he hopes the boy continues to “do great things.” “Not much is known about his other illnesses, such as his kidneys and lungs.”

21-year-old Rigby man with ‘heart of gold’ continues to bless others after unexpected death
Provided photo

In addition to helping others as a donor, Freeman practiced giving generously and serving those around him throughout his life.

Freeman was working at Knife River Co. in Idaho Falls at the time of his death. Bell said he led a crew of men twice his age and would show up at 5 a.m. to start everyone’s machines and make sure everyone was warm.

“He always gave the entire crew lunch money (and gas money),” she said. “When he died, they all gave the money back to the front loader that was his machine. It was full of money.”

Born in Caldwell, Freeman has one older sister and one younger sister. Ms Bell said Ms Freeman had a difficult childhood but overcame it. At the age of 19, he decided to buy a house in Rigby for his mother.

“She not only loved him. Every parent has a favorite. I don’t care what they say. If they say otherwise, they’re lying. But the reason he was her favorite was also because he loved her the most,” Bell said.

Freeman was a talented baseball player who enjoyed disc golf and fishing. He was rebuilding snowmobiles when he was 12 years old and more recently rebuilding truck engines. He ran the truck on the day of the accident, but never had a chance to drive it.

“He was a very good kid, never in trouble in his life,” Bell said. “He never went out drinking. He was in bed by 8 or 9 o’clock. We call him the old man of the family. He was an anomaly.”

Ms Bell said losing her nephew was “the worst thing” but she was proud of the life he was able to save.

“You don’t have to be religious, you can be religious, but God — if there is a God — God did this. This must have been part of God’s plan… it was part of some plan,” she said. “I think he had plans for my beautiful and kind nephew.”

Freeman will be honored this summer when his name is added to the Celebration of Life Memorial in Utah. of Monuments are memorials and memorials It includes both living and deceased individuals who have donated organs, tissues, and eyes for transplantation or research in mountainous areas.

Titus Freeman and his mother
Titus Freeman and his mother. |Provided photo
Titus Freeman Donor Honor Walk held on October 22, 2025.
Titus Freeman Donor Honor Walk held on October 22, 2025. Provided photo
Titus Freeman's truck was being rebuilt by him and was running on the day of the accident.
Titus Freeman’s truck was being rebuilt by him and was running on the day of the accident. |Provided photo
Titus Freeman plays disc golf.
Titus Freeman plays disc golf. |Provided photo

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