Corey Venstra

Robert Corey Venstra, 72, passed away November 18, 2024, from pulmonary fibrosis.

He was born Sept 2, 1952, in Ogden, UT to Jay Donald Venstra and Roberta Joyce Montgomery. He lived many years with his grandparents, Heber and Lila Montgomery. He also had a special relationship with his uncle, Ed Venstra, and his grandfather, George Venstra.

He graduated in 1970 from Layton High School, where he participated in high school athletics. He served in the Utah National Guard 145th Field Artillery. He was a former member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. In 1975, his rookie season, he was runner-up in the bareback riding in the Wilderness Circuit. He made many lifelong friends during his years in the PRCA. He was a member of Local 312 of the Utah Sheet Metal Workers Association. He retired after 37 years. He was an apprenticeship welding instructor for 10 years at the Ogden/Weber Applied Technology Center. He won the Top Gun Welding Award 3 years in a row at the OTC, after which they asked him not to enter so others could enjoy the recognition. 

He married Mary Margaret Golden, the love of his life, on Aug. 2, 1979, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. He was an active member of the West Point 17th Ward. He served in the scouting program as Scout Master and Varsity Scout Coach. He took many scouts on high adventure trips. After his daughter asked why he didn’t take the girls on such trips, he also took many of the young women on high adventure camping trips, too. He served in the Bishopric, on the High Council, and as High Priest Group Leader. For the past 7 years, he has been a volunteer in the Sealing Department of the Ogden LDS Temple. He loved the friendships he made with the sealers and many patrons. 

He absolutely loved going on pack trips with his horses and mules to wilderness areas in the Uintas and Southern Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, and Arizona. He had many friends and relatives who accompanied him on his trips. He loved to share his stories about his adventures! He also enjoyed showing his mules and won many awards on the state and local level. 

In 1996, he and his family participated in the Utah Centennial Wagon Train. In 1997, they participated in the Mormon Trail Sesquicentennial Wagon Train in a wagon that he restored. They went from western Wyoming to Salt Lake City. He enjoyed taking his wagons and mules in parades and other wagon trains in Utah and Idaho.

For over 45 years Corey, his sons and their friends cut Piñon pine Christmas trees in eastern Nevada over 100 miles of BLM mountain ranges. Corey said he knew eastern Nevada better than his home state of Utah. It gave Corey great joy to give trees to those in need at Christmas time, and to see the same clientele come year after year for a fresh cut Piñon tree.

He is survived by his wife, Mary; his 3 children, Chase, Challis (Shelly), and Briar (Ross); his grandchildren, Cheyenne, Bridger, Steele, Albany, Sadie, Cole, Paisley, Ainsley, Jenna, Cambrie, William George, Porter, Cooper, and Woodrow. He is also survived by his brothers, Mickey (Val) and Kevin (Jane) and uncle, Ed Venstra. 

His funeral will be Monday, November 25 at 11 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, West Point 17th Ward Chapel (855 N 4000 W West Point, UT). A viewing will be on Sunday, November 24 from 6-8 pm at the church, and prior to the funeral from 9:30-10:30 am. 

Interment will be at the West Point Cemetery. 

The family would like to give a special thank you to his hospice nurse, Krista, and aide Miriam.