Dennis Randall Welker, 77, of Soda Springs, passed away Monday, January 17, 2011 in Salt Lake City, Utah at the University of Utah Medical Center after a short illness.

Dennis was born December 3, 1933 in Fish Haven, Idaho, to Dennis Clarence and Edna Fern Smith Scofield. After their deaths, he was adopted by Ray Myron and Letha Harris Welker. He lived in Fish Haven, Idaho, Thatcher (Mound Valley) Idaho and Soda Springs, Idaho. He attended school in Paris, Idaho and graduated from Grace High School.


He married Lois Jean McCann in 1953. They were later divorced. He married Georgia Lee Bennett in 1961. They had two daughters, Lee Ann and Ardelle. They were later divorced. He married NaReese Athay on July 20, 1968. He later adopted her surviving children, Vickie, Debbie, Randy and Todd. NaReese passed away April 23, 1997. He married Nyla Annette Hegstrom on July 24, 1999 in Spring Creek, Nevada. He was step-father to her children, Annie, Carla and Tina.

Dennis worked for Monsanto for 35 years. He was also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and had served in various callings, including Ward Choir, Cub Scouts, High Priest Secretary and Home Teacher. He was also active in Local Theater and was a volunteer EMT for Caribou County, and a member of the Caribou County Sheriff Posse. He loved the outdoors, camping, fishing, lock-smithing and chain saw sharpening.

He is survived by his wife, Nyla, of Soda Springs; two sons, Randy Welker of Logan, UT, and Todd Welker of Medford, WY; four daughters, Vickie (David) Murri, Lewiston, ID; Debbie (Dean) Anderson, Pocatello, ID; Lee Ann (David) Jacobson, Idaho Falls, ID; and Ardelle (Wallie) Wentz of Kelso, WA; three step-daughters, Annie (Darin) Christensen, Magna, UT, Carla (Kent) Payne, Abilene, TX and Tina (Alan) Summers, Aberdeen, ID. Dennis is also survived by 28 grandchildren and 14 Great-grandchildren; a brother, Roger (Silvia) Earley, Laketown, UT and two sisters, Melba (Charles) Cox, Niceville, FL and Rosemary (Richard) Sandau of Blackfoot ID.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Dennis and Edna Scofield and Ray and Letha Welker, his wife, NaReese, a brother, Laurel, a step-daughter, Stacey Jo Smith, two granddaughters, Shantell Emily Welker and Kortni Dawn Anderson and a Great-grandson Avery John Murri.

Services will be held Thursday, January 20, 2011 at 1:00 pm at the Hooper LDS Chapel. The family will visit with friends on Wednesday evening from 7:00 pm until 8:00 pm at the Sims Funeral Home and Thursday morning from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm at the church prior to services. Burial will be at the Paris, ID cemetery.