Kay Denton

Our beloved mother, wife, sister, grandmother, aunt, and friend Kaytherine Denton passed away September 18, 2020 at her home in Shelley under the care of her family and Kara Yancey of Aspen Home Health & Hospice.

Gottfried Heinze and Jessie Berrett were blessed with a tiny red-head on November 4, 1934 in Sugar City, Idaho. “Kay” was the first of four children, Lynn (Kathy), Buck (Linda), and Dick (Iris) and the oldest of 31 grandchildren. There were always cousins to play with and work to do on the beet farm. At age 8, the family moved to Riverdale, then Sunset, Utah. Kay’s work ethic was reinforced, as she became the neighborhood and family babysitter when her mother entered the workforce. Kay was an excellent memorizer and graduated at the top of her Davis High School class, then Utah State University in business and secretarial science. Let the adventure begin!

Kay began teaching Type in Victorville High School, California. The principal told her, “Miss Heinze, you have convinced me that dynamite can come in small packages.” She then returned to her alma mater Davis High School where she taught Short-Hand and Business.

Sister Heinze was called to the “Western States” mission where her talents were quickly realized and was made the mission secretary in Colorado Springs. Returning from her mission, she worked as the private secretary to First Counselor in the First Presidency, Marion G. Romney. Fate moved her to Washington D.C. to work on Capitol Hill as Senator Wallace F. Bennett’s executive secretary. One morning a handsome farm boy from Driggs, Idaho (of all places!) popped his head in her office inquiring about jobs. Two years later Kay and Val Denton were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. She continued teaching to support Val through his masters program at University of Utah, then settled in Shelley where they lived for the next 50 years.

Kay flourished in her new community, serving and chairing in the PTSO, Shelley Study and Arts, and the Miss Russet Program. For 20 years she managed the Shelley branch of East Idaho Credit Union where she had a great influence teaching financial management and responsibility to the members.

Our mother was a true blue member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, never doubting, never fearing, ever obedient. She loved serving in the Church as stake primary president, ward relief society president, and stake extraction director but what she will be most remembered for is ward and stake choir director. Her 4 foot 10 inch frame could lift a choir so high praising the Lord it would raise the roof. Kay longed to serve another mission and was delighted when they were called to the Salt Lake Family History mission. Returning home they were once again called to serve, in the Humanitarian Center, where they ventured each Wednesday for 10 years.

Val and Kay were beautiful dancers and continued Jitterbugging at the V.F.W. Hall all the way to COVID. Even with Alzheimers, Kay’s feet remembered what to do. Family was first priority, our parents raised 2 daughters Heather DePriest (Doug) of Meridian and Ginger Durbin (Darren) of Shelley, 8 grandchildren Brier DePriest of Pleasant Grove, Utah, Andrew Durbin of Provo, Utah, Hunter DePriest (Christine) of Liberty, Kansas, Erin Yokoo (Tyler) of Vineyard, Utah, Kayla Bailey (George) of Bend, Oregon, Willson Durbin (Brooke) of Provo, Utah, Lindsey Durbin of Provo, Utah, and Aimee Durbin of Shelley, Idaho and 1 great-grandchild, Kay Bailey.

Kay rarely missed a recital, concert, play, game, or race. Her grandchildren will attest that no one on earth makes roast and gravy, or “toasted cheese” as good as Grandma Denton.

“Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.”

Friends and family will be received at 1:00 till 1:45 p.m. Monday, September 21 st at Nalder Funeral Home, 110 W. Oak St., Shelley, Idaho, with funeral services at 2:00 p.m. under the direction of Shelley 7th Ward. The funeral service will be streamed live on the Nalder Funeral Home Facebook page. Interment will be in the Shelley Hillcrest Cemetery.













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