Obituary

RaNae Kathleen Durtschi Pentico of West Valley City, Utah, reunited with the love of her life, Kenny, on April 17, 2025—and boy, you can bet that reunion was something special. Probably involved a long hug, a few happy tears, and a “What took you so long?”

RaNae was born on September 9, 1938, in the peaceful little town of Midway, Utah. As the oldest of six kids, she learned early how to be the leader. She had a childhood full of adventure—acquiring prize chickens that weren’t exactly hers, snow-bound truck misadventures, disappearing swimsuits (oops), and lots of laughter with friends.

And then came Kenny. Legend has it, he picked her out of a book (and let’s be honest, if you saw RaNae, that totally tracks). They were married on May 28, 1956, in the Salt Lake Temple, and started their life together just around the corner from Kenny’s parents in Park City. Eventually, they settled on Beaver Street, where they built a home full of love, noise, and a lot of kids.

Nine to be exact: Johnny (Bonnie), Claudia (Michael), Craig (Melanie), Rory (Julie), Blane (Shannon), Gordon (Dawn), Eric (Corrianne), Aaron (Trinitie), and Samuel (Katie). Then came the grandkids—57 of them. And the great-grandkids 48. Plus 4 great-greats and counting. If you’re trying to keep track, don’t. Just know family was everything to her.

RaNae was a proud, active member of her church and had a deep testimony of Jesus Christ. She served faithfully in countless callings, but she had a soft spot for the youth. For over 50 years, she was a member of The Daughters of the Utah Pioneers—and yes, she made it to the top as Captain Princess(that’s President, for the uninitiated).

Creativity practically spilled out of her. She crocheted, painted, sewed, gardened, and wrote stories (and we’re not just talking grocery lists—actual stories!). Her home was full of color, life, and a few dolls staring at you from every shelf. Speaking of dolls—she loved them. Especially the "orphaned" ones. She had a knack for adopting the oddballs and loving them fiercely (kind of her specialty, actually).

RaNae was the original documentarian before iPhones made it cool. She took all the home videos, all the pictures, and somehow remembered everyone’s birthday. Her love of movies and theater ran deep—she had a film collection so large it may require its own estate planning.

She was also a die-hard sports fan. Not necessarily for the touchdowns, but for the tight pants. She cheered for BYU football, Dale Murphy, Joe Ingles, Drew Brees, and of course, the one and only Hulk Hogan. And yes, she knew it was all staged. No, she didn’t care. Chuck Norris was her guy.

She loved animals, always had a lap dog, and happily welcomed visiting pets like they were royalty. She had a soft heart for anything furry and four-legged.

Her hobbies were eclectic, her personality unforgettable, and her love? Big and unconditional. She loved deeply and shared her life stories with everyone—especially if you happened to be fortunate enough to be on a road trip with her. Above all, her favorite person was me. (Yes, me. You know who I am. No arguments.)

RaNae leaves behind a legacy of laughter, faith, family, and about 1,000 crocheted blankets. Heaven just got a little brighter.

Funeral services will be held Thursday 11:00 a.m. April 24, 2025 at her church 3274 South Hillsdale Drive. Friends may call Wednesday 6-8:00 p.m. and Thursday one hour prior to services at the church. Interment, Taylorsville Memorial Park.