Kenneth Max Mortensen

Kenneth Max Mortensen, age 84, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 8, 2026 in Sutherland, Utah after a valiant fight with multiple myeloma. Kenny was born October 3, 1941 in Delta, Utah, to loving parents Milo and LaPriel Maxfield Mortensen. He spent the first 17 years of life on the ranch out in West Sutherland or East Abraham depending on where various people drew the line. Ken was the second oldest of 5 children, with 2 brothers and 2 sisters. He spent his youth, raising rabbits, stock show calves, farming and attending school at Sutherland Elementary. Kenny had the opportunity to play his accordion on Eugene Jelesnik’s television program called “Talent Showcase” when he was 14 years old.

His teenage years were busy while attending Delta High School, where he was involved in wrestling , FFA, and chasing girls with his friends. After graduation, he attended CSU in Cedar City, Utah, where he wrestled and supported his antics by working at Meadow Gold Dairy. He made many lifelong friends. He graduated with a degree in political science. There Kenny met his sweetheart, Connie Marshall. He had a date with her roommate, but after seeing Connie, he told his friend that he had lined him up with the wrong girl. Kenny acquired her number and the rest is history.

Kenny was drafted into the U.S. Army, and he was sent to Fort Lewis, Washington. Kenny and Connie were engaged while he was on leave at Christmas time. He then married his forever sweetheart on May 27, 1967. The marriage was later solemnized in the Manti LDS Temple. They spent a year in Washington and then he was sent to Germany, during the Vietnam War. He learned how to play soccer while there, and was on a soccer team. Because Kenny could type and was skilled in journalism, he was given a job in the office on base, this prevented him from being sent to Vietnam. After the war, the couple spent a short time living in Cedar City, and then moved to Salt Lake City, where he worked for Sperry Univac. This is where their first daughter, Tisha, was born.

When she was a year old, they moved back to Delta, where Carl Ashby had offered him a job and a partnership at Ashby Feedlot. As Kenny already had 1 daughter, Tisha, and added 3 more: Jenny, Marcie and Melissa; observing that Carl had 8 daughters and 1 son, he decided not to also go for 8 to get a boy. His family was already perfect. At one point Kenny operated the largest feedlot in the state of Utah, feeding between 5,000 head to 7,500 max, feeding mostly for Dale T Smith and Sons. He farmed 700 acres and provided many cattle for cutting shows. Kenny was able to buy almost all the feed locally from local farmers, where he earned a great and respected relationship with all his customers.

Kenny was very involved in the community: the local FFA program, stock shows, Wrestling, sporting events, refereeing, announcing the radio, auctioneering and writing sports articles for the chronicle. He enjoyed being part of the American Legion and playing the accordion for the Care Center, Diamond D and anyone that asked. Kenny had a deep love of the Wrestling program and his country. He made friends everywhere he went. Kenny and Connie decided to go to Torrey, Utah in their retirement years and run an RV Park for 2 years which he loved. When they came back to Delta he drove trucks for Gordon Porter and farmed his own 40 acres, continued irrigating and spraying weeds for the canal company. He hated weeds! He just never could really retire, even though he tried many times. Connie was the love of his life and you never saw one without the other, they truly have a special union and he never raised his voice to her or was cross with her.

A faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kenny served in many callings throughout his life including High Councilman, Executive Secretary, Teacher, Stake Sunday school, home teacher. He took the calling of visiting the sick, afflicted and people just having a hard time very seriously. When he was 80 he decided he could write a book better than some of the ones he’d been reading and started a year long process of research and writing a western novel “Rattle Snake Basin”, and followed up with another one, “Revenge Trail”, proving you're never too old to do new things. In 2024, he had the privilege of going on the Utah Honor Flight, with his brother, Sid. It was the trip of a lifetime! He loved every minute of it.

Kenny is survived by his wife: Connie; 4 daughters: Tisha (Cary) Edwards, Delta; Jenny (Mont) Myers, Nephi; Marcie (Glen) Taylor, Sutherland; and Melissa (Brook) Finlinson, Lehi; 13 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, and 1 on the way; sister: Julie (Mike) Katzorke, Prescott, Arizona; brother: Sid (Janice) Mortensen, Washington, Utah. Preceded in death by his parents: Mike and LaPriel; sister: Carolyn; and baby brother: Doug; in-laws: Clauss and Melba Marshall.

Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, January 15, at 11:00 a.m., at the Sutherland LDS Chapel, 3060 West 2600 North. Viewings will be held at the Suthlerland Church on Wednesday evening, 6:00-8:00 p.m.; and again Thursday, 9:30-10:40 a.m., prior to the service. Those unable to attend in person may view the recorded video of the service. The link will be posted with his obituary at www.nicklemortuary.com following the conclusion of the service. Burial will be in the Sutherland Cemetery.