La Conner Weekly News - Your independent hometown award-winning newspaper

John W. Denton, a lifelong resident of the Skagit Valley, died very peacefully in Burlington on Sunday, April 13.

He was born in La Conner on January 24, 1931, the son of Oscar and Mamie Denton and was raised on the Denton and Valentine homestead on Pleasant Ridge.

He graduated from La Conner High School and then went into the Army for four years. Upon his return, John went to work for Cascade Frozen Foods as a field man.

John met his future bride, Karlyn Kurth, when he jumped onto her tractor, which was pulling a pea viner and knocked her thermos to the ground, breaking it. That moment he knew he wanted to see her again, but she knew she didn’t want to see him!

John bought her a new thermos and eventually they were married, on December 12, 1959. They moved out to westside Mount Vernon to a home on acreage that he and his brothers helped build.

John and Karlyn raised two children, a wonderful son and a fantastic daughter. They also raised thoroughbred race horses that they sold to trainers at Long Acres race track. John enjoyed being on the back stretch watching the races, but he enjoyed being in the winner’s circle a whole lot more!

He worked in agriculture for over 30 years in Skagit County. He enjoyed hunting and loved going on his weeklong hunting trips every October in Eastern Washington with a great group of friends.

Upon retiring from agriculture, he worked for the Farm House Restaurant and for the Big Lake Bar and Grill, where he cooked and prepared crab for their Friday night crab feeds. In his later years, John loved being at Big Lake Bar and Grill, listening to the music and dancing the two-step.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar and Mamie Denton; his sisters, Ann Denton, Naomi Denton, Virginia Barr, and Mary Prante; his brothers, Dan Denton, Paul Denton, and David Denton.

John is survived by his son, J. Kirk Denton; his daughter Kristen A. Denton; his grandson Joshua T. Denton; his brother Joseph Bruce Denton; his sister Ida Lois Wold; and many wonderful nieces and nephews.

Special thanks go to Dee Denton for taking time every week for the past several years to drive John out to lunch and the grocery store. Also, a huge thank you goes to Floyd Richardson, who for the past year had taken him to the Big Lake Bar & Grill for lunch at least twice a week. Finally, we extend heartfelt thanks to the Prestige Care Center for taking such good care of John in his last few days and allowing him to die in peace with dignity.

A graveside service will be held today, April 23, at 10:30 a.m. at the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery.

Arrangements are in care of Kern Funeral Home of Mount Vernon. Offer John’s family condolences and share memories at http://www.kernfuneralhome.com