RENCHER, Valden Flake (Val)

Owens Livingston Mortuary ~ Heritage Chapel Snowflake, Arizona Valden Flake Rencher October 10, 1944 - January 18, 2012 Valden Flake "Val" Rencher died in the very early morning hours of Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at the Coronado Hospice House in Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona following a lengthy illness. Val was 67 years old. Val was born on Tuesday, October 10, 1944 in Torrance, Los Angeles County, California to the late Joseph Lynn and Aften (Flake) Rencher. Family and friends are warmly invited to gather at a special graveside service that will begin 10:00 A.M., Monday, January 23, 2012 at the R.V. "Mike" Ramsay Memorial Cemetery in Snowflake, Arizona. A more detailed obituary will be added to this website and submitted to local papers in the coming weeks ahead. ~~~~~~~~~~ The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 07/24/2012 Valden Flake Rencher passed away six months ago at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, in Phoenix. He was born Oct. 10, 1944, in Torrance, Calif., the fourth child of Joseph Lynn and Aften Flake Rencher. When Val was 3-1/2, his family moved to a 10 acre farm in Farmington, N.M. where he became a successful 4-H gardener and an eager, young fisherman. Ten years later, his family relocated to Boulder, Colo. There he completed his high school years, learned to play the guitar, and earned his license to fly small aircraft. Val filled an LDS mission in Australia and was privileged to visit New Zealand and Tahiti as he traveled back to the states. He married Debra Evensen Aug. 13, 1968. They had three children and some happy years together before they divorced. Val then lived in Ft. Morgan, Colo., Houston and Arlington, Texas, and Snowflake, before settling in Phoenix. Val enjoyed life. He enjoyed people and nature and music. He loved his children, and he loved 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, younger brother Dwaine and 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, N.M., Lureen (Kenneth) Orchard and Velda (Kenneth) Anderson in Canon City, Colo. 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 Jan. 23, with burial at the R.V. “Mike” Ramsay Memorial Cemetery in Snowflake. Owens Livingston Mortuary of Snowflake handled arrangements. Those who have special memories and would like to send private condolences or sign an online guest book are invited to visit website www.owenslivingstonmortuary.com.