1935 ~ 2025
Beloved husband, father, father-in-law, brother, uncle, grandfather, and great-grandfather.
Son of Bernado (Ben) Renda and Ruth Evelyn Nielsen, born September 28, 1935, in Los Angeles, California. Don was raised in Van Nuys, CA with his siblings Janet and Russell. He graduated from Van Nuys High School in 1953 and graduated from UC Davis in 1960 with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine.
Don married his sweetheart, Carole Anne Deneke, on January 24, 1959, in Los Angeles LDS Temple. Don and Carole (his “good girl”) were married for 56 years until Carole’s passing on November 25, 2015.
Don and Carole raised five sons in Van Nuys, Ventura, and Agoura, CA. He also resided in Littleton, CO, Salt Lake City, Draper, and Washington Terrace, UT. He passed away peacefully at age 90 in South Jordan, UT.
Don was active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He held many callings but two of his most personally rewarding positions were Bishop of the Ventura 3rd Ward and Bishop of the Eagle Gate 8th Ward. He performed marriages, funerals, counseled members, gave blessings, and joined in ward activities.
Don was active in Scouting and hiked the entire John Muir Trail, doing segments of the trail with each of his sons. He helped his five sons earn their Eagle Scout Award and serve church missions.
Don worked as a veterinarian at Austin and Winston Pet Hospital (Van Nuys, CA), Mission Animal Hospital (Ventura, CA), Anacapa Animal Hospital (Ventura, CA, built with partners Tom Turner, Jack Hayes, and Jack Kaiser), and Sandy Animal Hospital (Sandy, UT). At age 87, he retired from Veterinary Medicine after having supervised vaccine administration at County Animal Shelters and provided vaccine clinics along the Wasatch Front.
His passing is preceded by his parents and his wife, Carole. Survived by sister Janet Renfro of Albuquerque, NM; brother Russell and Audrey of Las Vegas, NV; sons: Scott and Patricia of Everett, WA; Mark and Laura of Herriman, UT; Todd of Toquerville, UT; Rick and Jamie of Ogden, UT; Matt and Karen of Puyallup, WA; 21 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren.
We express gratitude to the staff at BeeHive Homes of South Jordan and Bristol Hospice for their loving care.
Funeral Services will be held Saturday, October 18, 2025, at Larkin Mortuary, 260 E South Temple, Salt Lake City, at 11:00 am, with viewing before from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. Interment will be held at Salt Lake City Cemetery.
Don, we love you and are happy you and Carole are reunited. Until we meet again!