Denise Patterson-Kenton

Denise Shaelene Patterson-Kenton, age 37, of Roosevelt and Indian Bench, UT, passed away April 19, 2026, at the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City.

She was born October 22, 1988, in Roosevelt. In 2007. She graduated from Chemawa Indian School, Salem, Oregon. She married Willy S. Kenton on June 16, 2018, in Vernal, Utah.

Denise loved to participate and attend Pow Wows, Bear Dances, and Sundances where she supported her husband, Willy, and her uncles. She liked to travel to Oregon, Idaho, Arizona, Wyoming, Oklahoma, and Colorado to visit family.

Denise had a passion for Art. She had painted the Ute Indian Tribe emblem on a wall at the Chemawa Indian School. This painting was done all by free-hand.

Denise had the LOVE for basketball and she played on the West Jr. High Girls Basketball Team, “The Lady Knights; Ute Tribe Jr. Jazz – her coach being Marsha Jack. She played with the “NDN Time” of Ft. Hall, Idaho, and another team from Wyoming where they traveled to Teen Basketball Tournaments.

In her younger years, she was a fancy dancer and traditional dancer. When Denise was a little girl, she was crowned “Papa Bears Princess” for her headstart class and then she was crowned Ft. Hall Festival Future Princess for the Shoshone Bannock Festival. She participated in the Ute Fashion Show in Ignacio & Towaoc, Colorado, and in Ft. Duchesne. She worked at the Ute Tribe Headstart as a bus monitor and as an office clerk at the Ute Tribe Energy & Minerals Department.

Denise was a member of the Native American Church.

She loved all her nieces & nephews, loved being around little kids, and always had a fun project for them to do like coloring eggs for Easter and making gingerbread houses for Christmas. Her favorite holiday was Halloween because she enjoyed decorating with scary themes and helping her mom make homemade treats.

Denise loved her farm animals: chickens: “Henni,” “Roo,” & “Chickee;” cat: “Elsa;” a puppy; and her horse: “Cardi.” She really liked going to concerts with her friends and aunties. She was a great supporter to her nieces & nephews & family members in their sporting activities.

Denise loved being around her mom, Jen, dad, LeRoy, and her big family, relatives, friends, and was always joking around and laughing.

She took pride in her Ute Culture & traditions.

Denise is survived by her husband, Willy Kenton; parents, Jennifer & LeRoy Cesspooch, Roosevelt; a little brother whom she helped raise, Topah G. Reed, special nephew, Odien R. Jack; two beautiful nieces, Boydee Gravatt & Marcella Jack; her best friend, Tiffany Taveapont; grandmas, Belynda Wana, Ramona Cesspooch, Jackie (Jerry) Tapoof, Madeline Martinez, Patricia & Argo Shoyo, Maxine LaRose, Marita Stacey, Bernie Shoyo; Charlotte Lumpmouth, Lesa Jenkins, Torrie Nephi; grandpas, Gilbert Gardner, Luke Duncan, Arlen Shoyo, Ansel Chegup; uncles & aunties, Rainey Longhair-Reed, Blair Wana, Elena Vassar, Charlotte Longhair, Pam W. Cuch, Veronica Zapata, Carol Martin, Tonya Navanick, Jamie Farmer, Rachael Watson, Dexter Tindore, Ernie (Thea) Appenay, Todd (Misty) Appenay, Rayfield & William Appenay, Quanah (Silvermoon) LaRose, Hokie Clairmont, Kenson Loney, Bradford & Montie Longhair, Bart (Quanah) Poowaukee, Carlo (Iris) Chimburas, Raphael Watson, Corey Reeder; and numeros other nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, other relatives, and many friends near & far.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Robert & Carmelita Longhair Jack, Arther G. Patterson, Alvin Longhair, Leo Patterson, Leo Cesspooch, Wilford Wanna, Alta Appenay, Ruth Ellen Cuch, Doreen Colorow, Butch & Vivian Powaukee, Jackie Lee, Isabelle Chapoose, Linda & Lenore Shoyo, Joan S. Hurtado, Alice Jones, Hanna Santio; aunts & uncles, Margo Powaukee-Kanip, Laurie Patterson, Leta Cesspooch, Terrence Cesspoch, Rossie Longhair, Victor Large, Lester “Chachee” Chapoose, LittleBear Watson, Brenda Drye, Ileen Drye, Berlinda Cotonuts, and Glen Cotonuts.

If any survivor’s or those preceded by death’s names were left off the list, it was simply an oversight and not intentional.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 24, 2026, at 11:00 AM at the Ft. Duchesne Community Building. A wake will be held on Thursday after 4:00 PM at Carmelita Jack’s home (3384 N 4500 E).

Burial will be in the Ft. Duchesne Cemetery.