Dennis “Denny” Lyle Valentine of Sanford, Colorado, passed away on June 29, 2021. He was born in Alamosa, Colorado, on July 4, 1939. He graduated from Sanford High School in 1957, and served two years in the Cardston, Alberta, Canada mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He graduated from Adams State College with a teaching degree and began a career in teaching that lasted over 30 years.

He married Gertrude Schmidhauser on April 30, 1965.  They had two children, Wendy L. Valentine (Taylor) and Corinne Valentine (McEvoy).

On November 17, 1978, he married Loretta Smith. 

Not one to ever stay idle, upon retirement as a teacher, he entered the hotel and restaurant management industry. This took him and his wife, Loretta, to beautiful Moab, Utah, where they lived for many years.

Denny was preceded in death by his wife Loretta, his parents Lyle James Valentine and Doris Mae Rasmussen, a sister LaWana Valentine, and a brother James Holt Valentine.  He is survived by his two daughters, Wendy Lee Valentine Taylor (James), and Corinne Valentine-McEvoy (James); stepchildren Kim (Mike), Schaefer, Shauna (Monte) Morgan, Karen Kay Shepherd, and Mike (Michelle) Shepherd.

He has four grandchildren: Karl, Allison (Guy), Katie (Brian), Rachel (Keith), and six great-grandchildren. He and Loretta have 11 step-grandchildren: Stephanie, Brady, Mitchell, Meredith, Holly, Hanna, Breanne, Keaton, Mikaeka, Marshall, and Mitchell, and 16 step-great-grandchildren. He is survived by his siblings Kirt (Cynthia) Valentine of Sanford, Colorado, Craig (Shirley) Valentine of Aurora, Colorado, Scott (Linda) Valentine of Greeley, Colorado, and LaNae Valentine of Vineyard, Utah, as well as numerous other extended family members and close friends whom Denny dearly loved.

He enjoyed hiking, basketball, and history. He was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He donated countless hours of service to friends, neighbors, and members of his community. We remember him for his kindness, family history work, and love of an ice-cold Mountain Dew.

Funeral services will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Chapel in Sanford, Colorado, Tuesday, July 6, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. Preceding funeral services a viewing will be held from 9:00-10:45 at the same location.  Interment will follow services in the Sanford Cemetery.

Rogers Family Mortuary is in care of the arrangements.  To leave online condolences, remembrances and words of comfort for the family, please visit www.RogersFunerals.com