Valden Rencher

Valden Flake Rencher passed away six months ago at 2:30 A.M., on Wednesday, January 18, 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona. He was born October 10, 1944 in Torrance, California, the fourth child of Joseph Lynn and Aften Flake Rencher. When Val was 3 1/2, his family moved to a ten acre farm in Farmington, New Mexico where he became a successful 4-H gardener and an eager, young fisherman. Ten years later, his family relocated to Boulder, Colorado. There he completed his high school years, learned to play the guitar, and earned his license to fly small aircraft. Val filled and LDS mission in Australia and was privileged to visit New Zealand and Tahiti as he traveled back to the states. He married Debra Evensen on August 13, 1968. They had three children and some happy years together before they divorced. Val then lived in Ft. Morgan, Colorado, Houston and Arlington, Texas, and Snowflake, Arizona before settling in Phoenix. Val enjoyed life. He enjoyed people and nature and music. He loved his children, and he love learning. Some of his favorite places were libraries, college campuses, museums, planetariums, mountains and rivers. He was serious about politics, studied other cultures and languages, and proudly became an enthusiastic patron of the arts, regularly attending operas, symphonies, and ballets. Some special people in Val's closing days were his friends, Dawn Halvorson, Dolly Luedde, Arling and Norma Morrison, John and Shirley Victor, and his faithful neighbor, Davina Howlett. Valden was preceded in death by his parents, his younger brother, Dwaine and a nephew, Gregory Roberts and his special friend, Professor Don Halvorson. He is survived by two brothers, three sisters, and three brothers-in-law, Ron in Salt Lake City, Dennis in Yakima, Washington, Marilyn (Julian) Ralph in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Lureen (Kenneth) Orchard and Velda (Kenneth) Anderson in Canon City, Colorado. He is also survived by his children; Christopher, Valene and Joseph Evensen; two grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and caring cousins and friends. A graveside service was held on Monday, January 23, 2012. Val is buried at the R.V. "Mike" Ramsay Memorial Cemetery in Snowflake, Arizona.